John Wilson
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John was the son of Thomas and Emma Jane Wilson (née Gallimore).
His father Thomas was born in 1868 at St Pierre, Calais, France; he had at least two siblings, Louise (b. abt 1870) and William (b. abt 1874), who were also born in Calais. His mother Emma Jane (k/a Jennie) was born in 1871 in Walsall, Staffordshire, the daughter of George and Caroline Gallimore.
Thomas and Emma were married in 1889 (AMJ Nottingham) and had five children, two of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were Louise b. October 1889 (Nottingham), Thomas b. 1897 (Carrington) and John b. 1899 (Meadows). One of the two children who died in infancy was William b. 1909 (AMJ) d. 1909 (AMJ).
In 1891 Thomas, a general labourer, his wife Emma, a cotton gasser, and their daughter Louise (1), were living with Emma's parents, George and Caroline, and their son George (16), at 10 Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham.
By 1901 Thomas, a potato merchant (own account/at home), his wife and their three children were living at 16 Queen's Road, Nottingham. Also in the household were Thomas's unmarried siblings, William, a lace maker, and Louise, a lace mender, and also a general domestic servant.
Thomas, a stoker for the Gas Department ('out of work'), his wife, and children Louise, a hosiery machinist, Thomas, a fishmonger's assistant (Jesse Robinson) and John, who was school age, were living at 38 Dickinson Street, St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham, in 1911.
Thomas and Jennie were living at 30 St. James's street, Nottingham, at the time of John's death in 1918.
John's father completed a form for the Army on 1 December 1919 (witnessed by the Vicar of Aslockton parish church), listing his late son's surviving blood relatives:
Father: Thomas Wilson, Thoroton Road, Aslockton.
Mother: blank.
Brother: Thomas Wilson (24), 30 St James’s Street Nottingham.
Sister: Louise Bayliss 115 Carlton Road Nottingham.
Nephews: Thomas Wilson (1), Thomas Bayliss (7), Frank Bayliss (5), William Bayliss (2). Grandparents: Louisa Wilson, St Pierre Halte, Calais, France.
Uncles and Aunts by blood: (Wilson) William Wilson and Louise, Ann, Emma, Maria, Eliza and Jane. ‘Wilson before marriages’, addresses Calais, France.
Jennie died on 10 December 1922. The probate record gave her address as Thoroton Road, Aslockton, Nottinghamshire, and administration was awarded to her husband, 'a retired refreshment stall proprietor'.
Thomas died on 28 September 1931; he was still living at Thoroton Road, Aslockton, at the time of his death. Notices of his death were placed in the local paper by his two surviving children, Louie and her husband Ernest Bayliss (m. 1912) and Thomas (Tom) and his wife Norah.
Louise and Ernest had at least four children, Thomas b. 1913, John b. 1914, William Henry b. 1917 and Joan b. 1920. In 1939 Louise, a shopkeeper/confectioner, and her sons John, a shop assistant, and William, a lorry driver (wholesale fruit), were living at 330 Radford Road Nottingham. William was married (probably to Elizabeth A Jackson, 1938). Her son John died in 1958 aged 44 and Louise six years later on 5 September 1964 aged 74 years.
John Wilson attested at Nottingham on 10 May 1917 aged 17 years 286 days and was posted to the Army Reserve the following day.
He was mobilized on 28 August 1917 and was posted to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), probably with the 53rd (YS) Battalion (93163 Private). There are conflicting records in his service documents, but it is likely that he transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the 51st (Grad) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, with effect from 4 January 1918.
He embarked at Folkestone for Boulogne on 31 March 1918 and joined at the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on 2 April (but see service history which gives date of arrival in France as 2 April). On 3 April he was transferred to the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
John was serving with XI Platoon, C Company, when he was reported missing in action, 27-29 May 1918. His death on 27 May 1918 was not confirmed until the following year.
John has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial.
Service: Home 10 May 1917-10 May 1917; 1 day. Reserve 11 May 1917-27 August 1917; 109 days. Home 28 August 1917-1 April 1918; 217 days. France 2 April 1918-27 May 1918; 56 days. Total 1 year 18 days.
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of the Soissons Memorial (extract): 'The original British Expeditionary Force crossed the Aisne in August 1914 a few kilometres west of Soissons, and re-crossed it in September a few kilometres east. For the next three and a half years, this part of the front was held by French forces and the city remained within the range of German artillery. At the end of April 1918, five divisions of Commonwealth forces (IX Corps) were posted to the French 6th Army in this sector to rest and refit following the German offensives on the Somme and Lys. Here, at the end of May, they found themselves facing the overwhelming German attack which, despite fierce opposition, pushed the Allies back across the Aisne to the Marne. Having suffered 15,000 fatal casualties, IX Corps was withdrawn from this front in early July, but was replaced by XXII Corps, who took part in the Allied counter attack that had driven back the Germans by early August and recovered the lost ground. The Soissons Memorial commemorates almost 4,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom forces who died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in 1918 and who have no known grave.' (www.cwgc.org)
British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry List, Wounded & Missing, 1914-1919. Enquiry date 20 November 1918: Jack (sic) Wilson, 81365, XI Platoon, C Company, 15th Bn DLI, missing 27-29 May 1918 BEF.
Army service record. Letter from the War Office, London, dated 31 January 1919, to the OIC Record Office (York) that a report had been received of an official German List of Dead giving the name of Pte J Wilson DLI. Although the entry in manuscript is indistinct it appears that the German authorities had provided an Identity Disc. The letter continued, ‘This report has been accepted as sufficient evidence of death for official purposes and the date of death has been assumed to be on or since 27 May 1918. The next of kin should therefore be notified accordingly and the usual non-effective documents prepared. (The place of burial should be commuincated to the next of kin, when the particulars are furnished).’ The identity disc was the only item of private property to be returned to John’s father.
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave and headstone, inscription: In loving memory of Jennie Wilson who died December 10th, 1922, aged 53 years. ‘He giveth his beloved sleep.’ Also of her son Pte John Wilson D.L.I. killed in France May 27th 1918, in his 19th year. Also of Thomas Wilson beloved husband of the above who died Sep. 28th 1931, aged 63 years. Re-united. Also beloved grandson John Bayliss loved son of Louie and Ernest died August 4th 1958 aged 44 years, And of Louise, with her loved ones, Sept, 5th 1964 aged 74 years.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 8 February 1919: 'Wilson. Missing May 27th, 1918, now presumed killed, Pte. J. Wilson, Durham Light Infantry, aged 19, the dearly loved youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, 30 St. James's-street, Nottingham. 'Tis hard to part with one we love so dear, but some day we may understand.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam, 27 May 1919:
'Wilson. In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. J. Wilson, Durham Light Infantry, presume killed May 27th, 1918, or after, in his 19th year. No morning dawns, no night returns, but what we think of you. Sadly missed by his loving mam and dad.'
'Wilson. In ever-loving memory of our dear brother, Pte. J. Wilson (Johnny), D.L.I., presumed killed May 27th, 1918, or after. Love hath ever-lasting remembrance. Dearly loved. Sadly missed by his sister, Louie, Ernest [Bayliss] and little nephews [Thomas, John, William].'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Additional research/record updated RF (April 2026)
Photo of John Wilson
Commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France. (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of John Wilson
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (22 April 2026)