In Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 21084 Private Ralph Wilson serving with the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 24/05/1915.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Ralph Wilson, born in 1875, was the eldest of 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters. His parents William Wilson and Mary Jane Watson, born 1847 and 1843 respectively at Newcastle upon Tyne, were married, May 18th 1870.
Ralph was born at Newcastle as were his siblings Thomas in 1876, Jane 1882, Isabella 1884, James, May 23rd 1884 and Joseph in 1890 whilst they were living at 6, Cox Chare, running from Pandon down to the quayside where his father was employed as a general labourer. Ralph at the age 16 was employed as a general domestic servant.
On August 13th 1894, in the parish of All Saints, Newcastle, Ralph married Margaret Jane McCree Gilroy, born May 21st 1870 at Gateshead, historically in County Durham a single mother with a son, George Henry born November 3rd 1891. Together they had another 7 children of whom 6 survived, William born 1896, Ralph Jnr, May 28th 1897, Jane 1899 who died 1900, James Robson born July 9th 1902, Jane Ellen 1905, Mary 1909 and Thomas 1910.
In 1911 they were living as boarders at 8, Lee Court, High Street, Gateshead the home of widowers William and John Thomas Tucker. Ralph Snr, John Henry (19) and William (16) all worked as labourers, the younger children were scholars.
In 1901 Margaret Jane was living alone with her children at the same address, employed as house keeper. It is highly probable that Ralph was in South Africa as part of the fighting force during the Boer War as when war was declared with Germany in 1914 he enlisted, assigned as Private 21094 to the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, of the regular Army, which had been recalled from India. The regiment arrived in England, December 22nd 1914, joining the 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The main body of men departed in January 1915, Private Wilson did not join them until May 3rd 1915 whilst they were in the trenches of the Ypres salient, Belgium.
Three weeks later Private 21084 Ralph Wilson Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action May 24th 1915 and is believed to be buried within Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, Special Memorial 9.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 8 Lee Court, High Street, Gateshead. Margaret Jane commissioned at a cost of 16 shillings 4 pence an additional inscription to be added to her late husband’s headstone, it reads, In Loving Memory Of My Dear Husband Death Divides But Memory Clings.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Ralph Wilson is not identified on any Gateshead War Memorial. His name is recorded in the Regimental Book of Remembrance page 79.
