John Edward Goodwin Wilson was born in 1885 at Derby, the first son and fourth child of Edward and Ann Wilson. His elder sisters were Annie, Edith, Florence and his two younger siblings were Lily and Stanley. Their father ran a stationery and book selling business in Derby. The family lived at 165 Uttoxeter Road. By 1901 John, or Edward as he was called, was working as a bank clerk for Parr’s Bank. He would work at the Burton and Derby branches before moving, circa 1910, to the Oswestry branch on Willow Street. In Oswestry he was living at 3 Park View on Mount Road. Also living with him were his uncle (William Curtis, a retired railway clerk), and his cousin Maude Curtis. In late 1916 he married Maude at Maidenhead – they would live at  5 Haughton Villas, Welsh Walls.

His military service is difficult to piece together. In his military and CWGC records he is listed as 1/7 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He is recorded as KIA 16 August 1917 and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. However, the 1/7 Bn RWF did not see service on the Western Front. John is also listed on the Ireland Roll of Honour (as 7 Bn RWF) of soldiers that served with Irish regiments. Also, under WW1 Campaign Medals he is listed as attached Royal Irish Rifles. In (Derby Newspaper) there is a report of him gaining his commission in RWF in late 1915. Medal Index Card records him as going to France in 1916, the Card also records him as 2/Lt 7 Bn RWF. It is known he was in the UK at Maidenhead when he married in last quarter 1916.

John EG Wilson. War Memorial, Nat. West Bank, Oswestry.

Putting this together – he was commissioned in RWF in 1915; went to France in 1916 and was possibly attached to RIR. He was in UK in the last quarter of 1916, either on leave or convalescent leave – the marriage at Maidenhead is intriguing, why not a home wedding at Oswestry or Derby, perhaps leave time was short, who knows? If he was on convalescent leave it is probable that he was wounded in 1916 and returned to France (married) and was posted to RIR.

Which battalion in RIR he was attached to is not known. Nearly all RIR Battalions were in 36 (Ulster) Division which fought at the Battle of Langemark, Third Ypres 16-18 August 1917, this ties in with his date of death and commemoration on Tyne Cot Memorial. He has no known grave.

Second Lieutenant Wilson is also recorded on St Luke’s Church War Memorial in Derby and on the war memorial in the National Westminster Bank, Church Street, Oswestry and in St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry. His brother Stanley also served, as second lieutenant in the Derbyshire Yeomanry, he survived the war.

The other name on the National Westminster Bank, Oswestry is believed to be Private G/40070 Frederick Dutton, 12 Bn Middlesex Regiment. Died 26 September 1916, Connaught Cemetery, Theipval,(CWGC), born 1890 Stapeley, Cheshire.

John E G Wilson, British War Medal (Neil Phillips)

John E G Wilson, ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ Commemorative Medal. Medal (Neil Phillips)

Acknowledgements. Derby War Memorial  

References and Sources

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