Category Archives: Western Front

Charles Edward Wilson

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Western Front

Charles Edward Wilson
Captain 1st Battalion
Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

Division 60

Wilson Charles Edward

Charles Edward Wilson is commemorated on his wife’s grave in the old Reading Cemetery. He was the first soldier commemorated in the cemetery to die during the Great War.

Charles Wilson was born in Cork, Ireland, on 2 June 1871, the son of Major General Francis E Wilson; Charles was also to be a career soldier. His association with Reading began on 31 December 1896 when at the age of 25, he married Mabel Carr, the daughter of Colonel George Sydney Carr, at St Mary’s Church.

Their first child Edward Sydney Wilson was born in Reading on 1 October 1897. Records show that he was baptised the following day and the headstone on his mother’s grave shows that he had died ten days later. A second son, Hugh Edward Wilson was born in October 1904. Sadly, Mable died at some time before the 1911 census; her headstone does not record the date of her death and it has not been possible to establish a date or cause of death for Mable by other means. The 1911 census records Charles as widowed and living at the Stoughton Barracks, Guilford. He was then 39 and holding the rank of Captain in his regiment. 1911 census record show that Hugh, then aged 6 was living with his widowed maternal grandmother Rose Carr at 7. Maitland Road, Reading.  Rose was then age 61 and was assisted in the rearing of Hugh by a governess, a cook and a maid.

Captain Wilson served in South Africa during the Boer War and it is also thought that he served in India. During his career he was decorated several times and we are told that he received the ‘Légion d’Honneur’ after his death in 1914. A detailed article, posted by an ancestor, about Captain Wilson’s life as a career soldier and Rugby player can be found in Wikipedia.

As a soldier in the regular army Captain Wilson and member of the BEF, the British Expeditionary Force, he was quickly involved in the opening battles of the war. His battalion fought at Mons and various actions during the retreat to the Marne. A counter offensive was launched on the 5 September by both the French and British armies which allowed them to reach the River Aisne on 13 September. At that point the Allies progress was checked y the German Army and fierce fighting took place on the slopes of the Chemin De Dames. The first trenches of the war were dug here on the 14 September 1914. The Queens Royal West Surrey 1st Battalion War Diary indicates that there was heavy shelling by the Germans which resulted in a high casualty rate.  The 16 September saw intermittent sniping fire throughout the day and a heavy bombardment between 4.30 and 6.30 p.m.   On 17 September shelling was heavy throughout the day and it was during this action that Captain Wilson and the battalion Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel D. Warren were killed. Shelling continued throughout the following day with the men relying heavily on the protection of the trenches. The battalion was engaged in fighting throughout the remainder of September and early October before moving into Belgium where they were then engaged in the 1st Battle of Ypres on the 21 September. This history of the battalion records that by the end of the first week of November 1914, there were only thirty-two survivors out of the original 998 men who had left England with the 1st Battalion Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment at the onset of the war.  

Captain Charles Edward Wilson was killed in action on the 17th September 1914.  He is buried in Paissy Church Yard, Aisne. Grave 2.

 

Ernest Edward Woods

Army, Arras, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading University College

Ernest Edward Woods
Staff Sergeant SS/5255
attached to 37th Division H.Q. Army Service Corps.

 Division 80

Woods EE photo Woods EE grave

Ernest Edward Woods was the son of Thomas and Susannah Woods, of  185, Oxford Road at the time of their son’s death; and 23, Coley Hill, Reading at the time of  CWGC registration.  His name is commemorated on the headstone of  grave number 16890.  He died on 22nd May 1916 and is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension II.C.18.

 The Standard 29th July 1916 gives details of his career and the details of the illness which killed him.

“ Sergt. Woods enlisted directly the war broke out, prior to which time he was a journalist on the ‘West London Free Press,’ which makes the following comment on his death:- “Woods was a capable and strenuous journalist.  His qualities of sprightly energy, alertness and loyalty won him the sincere regard of our staff.  His death appears all the more tragic because it was so unexpected.  Shortly before he was taken ill he wrote to his mother saying he was quite well and ever so happy.  Further information showed, however, that the preliminary cause of death was a tumour on the brain.  He was an extremely bright and joyous fellow, and had he lived would have had an honourable career in the Army.  Already he had won the confidence of the officers’ and men, and at headquarters it was known that he was marked out for rapid promotion.  For his mother and other relatives the sympathy of all who knew Staff Sergt. Woods goes out.”

          The C.O. wrote: “Woods had been in my confidential clerk for over a year – ever since the formation of the division.  It may be of some satisfaction to you to know that your son did his duty both willingly and well.  He died practically in the front line.”

 Doullens was the H.Q. of the French General Foch in the early part of the war.  From Summer 1915 to March 1916, the town was the junction between the French 10th Army and the British Third Army on the Somme.  The Citadelle, overlooking the town from the south, was a French military hospital, and the railhead was used by both Armies.  In March 1916, the Arras front became British, and the town became home to various Casualty Clearing Stations.  Medical units buried their dead firstly in the French Extension of the Communal Cemetery and later Extension No.2 when casualties form both the Arras and Somme fronts increased.

Albert Wing

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme

Albert Wing
Private 2580
“D” Company
1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 

Wiing AG photo

Albert Wing was the only son of  William George and Mary Francis Wing, 92, Donnington Gardens. Reading.  He was 21 and joined up just after the outbreak of war.

 In a letter, later published in the paper in April or May 1915,  Albert gives some information about a “close shave”.  A place which had been used by his battalion the previous morning had been shelled and burnt down within half and hour of their leaving,  He comments:

  “I don’t think any of us met with any danger – only from shells when in the trenches, and when we are getting in and out.  We went with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and I think one or two casualties occurred to that lot.  I am still keeping fit and well.”

 We do not know the exact circumstances in which Albert Wing was injured but it is probable that it happened on 23rd July when “D” company were shelled and fired on after a successful attack on Pozieres in the morning.  He was in the machine gun section and he received gun shot wounds in his right leg and buttock.  Albert was evacuated to hospital in Rouen where he later died of his injuries.  A chaplain wrote to his parents telling them that he had been brave and cheerful when admitted to hospital but a relapse had set in, and he died unconscious and peacefully.  The ground of the Somme was very fertile, and threads from clothing forced into wounds could result in blood poisoning and gangrene. Minor injuries, which had they been treated aseptically and quickly,  often proved fatal.

 Albert Wing was buried in the St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, location A. 13. 45.  He died 29th July 1916 – aged 21. 

 

Prior to the war he first worked for the Reading Corporation Tramways Department and later for Sutton and Sons.  He was a good Cricketer, and was Captain of the Sutton’s second team and had won the Batting prize two years in succession.  Albert Wing was also a member of St. John’s Church.