George William Wilson
1911 census - carter
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
George William was the son of George William and Fanny Maria Wilson (née Walker).
His father George William was born in Lincoln in February 1876, the son of Frederick and Betsey Ann Wilson; he was baptised at Lincoln St Peter at Gowts in March 1876. His mother Fanny Marie Walker was born in Branston, Lincolnshire, in December 1875 and baptised in the parish church in May 1877, both registrations 'Fanny Walker', mother Fanny (no surname), 'single woman'.
George and Fanny Maria, both 19 years old, were married at Bracebridge parish church, Lincolnshire, on 29 August 1895. The marriage certificate gave Fanny's father's name as Thomas Walker.
George and Fanny had five children: George William birth registered 1896 (JFM), Arthur birth registered 1898 (JFM), Frederick b. 1900 and John Wilfred b. 1902 who were born in Lincoln and Lillie (also Lily) who was born in Nottingham in 1910. George was baptised at Bracebridge parish church on 5 April 1896 and Arthur at Lincoln St Peter at Gowts on 29 August 1898. The birth registrations for George and John gave their mother's maiden name as 'Walker' but those for Arthur and Frederick as 'Briggs'.
George, a stoker (electricity works), Fanny and their sons George, Arthur and Frederick, were living on Raglan Street, New Boultham, Lincoln, in 1901. Their son John was born the following year.
They had moved to Nottingham by 1910 when their only daughter, Lillie, was born and in 1911 were living at 29 Selhust Street, Hyson Green: George, who was still working as a stoker, Fanny, George a carter, Arthur, Frederick and John who were school age and Lily who was a year old.
George jnr. married Phyllis Kilbourne (b. 1898), the daughter of Joseph and Millicent Kilbourne, at Nottingham Register Office on 11 July 1914. They had two sons, William John b. 14 August 1914 and George Leslie Arthur b. July 1916. The family was living at 51a Ryehill Street, New Basford, when George attested in May 1915 but his wife was living on Constance Street, Nottingham, in 1917 when the couple were probably already separated (see 'Extra Information').
George's mother, Fanny, completed a form for the Army in November 1920 listing his surviving relatives. She named his two sons, William John (also John William) b. August 1914 and George Arthur Leslie (sic) b. 17 July 1916, but for his widow, Phyllis, 'nothing known about his wife'. Included on the form were George's parents, George William and Fanny Maria Wilson of 32 Saville Street, Hyson Green, brothers Arthur (22) and Frederick (20) of the same address, John (19) who was serving with the RAF at RAF Uxbridge, and sister Lillie (10) also of 32 Saville Street.
George and Fanny were still living at 32 Saville Street in 1921. Also in the home were their son Arthur and daughter Lily, their grandsons William John (6) and George Leslie Arthur (4), and an aunt, Emma Briggs (75).
Fanny was widowed by 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, and was now living at 2 Lumley Street, Nottingham. Also in the home were her grandsons, John and George who were both labourers, and George's wife, Olive V (née Henshaw, m. 1936) who was a corset machinist.
George William Wilson joined in Nottingham on 19 May 1915, aged 19y 3m, occupation bleacher. His home address was 51a Ryehill Street, New Basford, next of kin wife Phyllis.
He was posted to the Sherwood Foresters the same day and served with the 16th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Chatsworth Rifles).
George embarked at Southampton on 6 March for BEF France, disembarking the same day. He was admitted to 133 Field Ambulance on 19 February 1917 (reason not specified) and then transferred to No. 14 General Hospital, Wimereux. He was discharged in early March to rejoin his unit.
A report was made in April 1918 that George was 'missing in the field, 31 March 1918' and it was not until November 1919 that the War Office informed the OIC Infantry Record Office Litchfield, that 'this soldier is now officially reported 'killed in action or died of wounds on or shortly after 21st March 1918', which please accept and inform the next-of-kin accordingly'. By this time George's next of kin was his mother who was caring for his two sons.
Service: Home 19 May 1915-5 March 1916 (291 days). BEF France 6 March 1916-21 March 1918 (2y 16d). Total 2 years 307 days. George was killed on the first day of the German Spring offensive.
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George's brother-in-law, Leslie Kilbourne, served with the 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (56248 Private) and was killed in action on 21 September 1917. Leslie's brother, William John Kilbourne, served with the Royal Navy during the Great War and rejoined in the Second World War (16162 Leading Stoker) and was killed when HMS Hartland was sunk on 8 November 1942. (See records on this Roll of Honour).
George's eldest son, John William Wilson (b. April 1914), served with 605 Squadron, Royal Air Force (101788 Leading Aircraftsman) in the Second World War. The Squadron was temporarily in Malta in 1941 providing defensive cover, then transferred to Singapore in January 1942 but moved to Sumatra before the fall of Singapore. It provided support for the Allied evacuation from Sumatra to Java but many of the Squadron were unable to escape capture after the Japanese invasion. John was captured on 20 March and held in a camp in Malaya. The Japanese POW record named his parents, George and Phyllis Wilson, and his grandmother, Mrs Wilson, 203 Broxtowe Lane, Aspley Estate, Nottingham. John was liberated on 2 September 1945.
George's brother, John Wilfred (b. July 1901), enlisted in the RAF as an aircraft hand on 14 August 1919 on a 12 year engagement (5 years, 7 years Reserve). He was discharged to 2 Adams Cottage, Lindsay Street, Hyson Green, on discharge and married Ellen Elizabeth Ceillams in 1925. He enlisted in Section II Class E Reserve for four years on 23 March 1938 and was mobilised on 24 August 1939. Found temporarily unfit for service, he was released to the Reserve but was recalled in October 1939. He and his wife were recorded on the 1939 Register at 4 Lumley Street; his occupation was given as dairyman but was also noted as being in the RAF Reserve.
CWGC Additional information: Son of Fanny M. Wilson, of 32, Saville St., Hyson Green, Nottingham.
British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry List. Wounded & Missing 1914-1919. 26269 GW Wilson, 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Date reported missing or wounded 21 March 1918. Missing or wounded details. M. [missing] Mar. 21-31/1918, BEF. Enquiries 2 August 1918 and 20 November 1918.
The Separation Allowance made by George for his family was removed by the Special Grants Committee from his wife, 'on account of her immoral way of life', and transferred to his mother, Fanny Wilson. George's wife had committed adultery and was reportedly pregnant with the child of a military policeman. (Phyllis's son, John Thomas Wilson, b. New Basford December 1917, was living with his grandparents, Joseph and Millicent Kilbourne, in 1921).
Nottingham Evening Post, 25 October 1917:
'UNFAITHFUL WIFE. NOTTINGHAM SOLDIER USES THE KNIFE. TO RETURN TO THE ARMY.
'A sad story was unfolded at the Nottingham Guildhall to-day [25th October 1917], when a soldier, named George Wm. Wilson, 21, of Constance-street, was charged with assaulting his wife, Phyllis, with a knife.
'The woman said that last night her husband came in with an escort and asked to see the children. As they would not be good he suggested that she should go upstairs. She did so, and he stabbed her twice in the back with a knife, and the escort had to strike him to prevent further violence.
'In reply to Mr. R. A. Young, who defended she admitted having committed misconduct with a man at Lincoln, for which her husband forgave her, and that she was now in a certain condition by a man whom she called 'Red Cap' (meaning a military policeman).
'Dr. H. O. Taylor said the woman had two wounds, but they were not dangerous.
'Mr. Young then related a pathetic story. While admitting that there was no such thing in England as “the unwritten law,” he asked the magistrates (Ald. Spalding and Ald. Cook) not to have regard merely to the drybones of the law. Defendant had been on active service, and in the course of a dangerous advance he secured a pocket-knife from a German – the knife he used on this occasion. When he went away ten or eleven months ago he consented to overlook an act of unfaithfulness on his wife’s part with a man at Lincoln, and he continued her separation allowance. When he came home and found that she had again been unfaithful, he threatened to destroy her “ring paper” (the paper on which the separation allowance was recorded), along with his railway pass, but she refused to return the pass until it had expired, the result being that he rendered himself liable to arrest as an absentee. This was particularly galling for a man who intended returning to his regiment.
'When the escort arrived he asked for permission to say goodbye to his children, and the escort allowed him to do so. Knowing that his wife had been twice unfaithful to him, and that his arresting [was] due to her, he lost his temper, and on the spur of the moment struck her twice with the knife. Of course, in English law he could not legally use a weapon unless he actually found his wife in an act of unfaithfulness or to save his own life, but morally there was as much to be said for him as there was for an officer who went to greater lengths – one remembered the recent case of Lieut. Montagu. Mr. Young asked the Bench to consider the grave provocation which the man had received.
'The Chairman in adjourning the case generally, said the Bench had taken into consideration the fact that prisoner’s wife had admitted one of the greatest crimes that a woman could commit against her husband, and the conduct was made worse by the fact that he was defending his country. He had been badly treated, but at the same time he had committed a serious offence in using the knife. The magistrates thought, however, he would be more useful in the army than in prison.'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
The separation allowance was transferred from George's wife to his mother, Fanny Maria Wilson, and following his death she was awarded 11/8d per week for the two children with effect from 2 December 1918.
Additional information/record updated, RF (Feb. 2026)
Photo of George William Wilson
Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, France, courtesy of the cwgc