John Hardy Wilson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was born in 1884 (registered J/A/S), the son of Samuel and Frances Wilson. According to the 1911 Census, Samuel and Frances had been married for 28 years and had had two children of whom only one survived. There is no record of the second child on earlier census.In 1881 Samuel was living on High Street, Kegworth, with his mother, Elizabeth Carruthers, and stepfather, Charles Carruthers, a general medical practitioner. Also in the household was his married sister, Elizabeth Seal (no occupation). Samuel was 'a farmer of 50 acres employing two men.'Samuel was married to Frances by the time of the 1891 Census and living on High Street, Kegworth, with their son, John (6). Also in the household was an elderly female boarder and a female general servant.The family was still living on High Street in 1901; John (16) was now articled to an architect. Samuel's widowed mother, Elizabeth Carruthers, was now living with her son and a female general domestic servant was also in the household.In 1911 John, described as an 'architect and surveyor, Nottinghamshire County Council', was still living with his parents in Kegworth. His father was still farming.Samuel Wilson died on 19 January 1931 at his home, The Yews, High Street, Kegworth. Frances survived him.
Enlisted September 1914, formerly Private 17523, Notts & Derby Regiment. He served in France from 14 July 1915 and was commissioned in the Notts & Derby Regiment on 6 August 1916. He probably died in the attack at le Verguire and is buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy (grave ref I.C.32). He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal; his father applied for the 1914 Star in February 1920.
He is also commemorated on the Kegworth (Leicestershire) war memorial. The memorial is on the outside boundary wall of St Andrew's Church.Nottingham Evening Post, 5 May 1917: ‘Roll of Honour. Killed. Lieut. JH Wilson. Second-Lieut. John H Wilson, Sherwood Foresters, whose name appeared in the lists a fortnight ago, was the only son of Mr and Mrs S. Wilson of The Yews, Kegworth. He was 33 years old.’Listed in Nottinghamshire County Council register of employees who served. The record was completed by L Maggs, NCC. (Nottinghamshire Archives ref CC.CL. 1/12/2)Probate granted 24 October1917: administration to Samuel Wilson (father), effects £407.3s.7d.John's medals (1915 Star/BWM/VM) and death plaque came up for auction in 2015 (www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb).Nottingham Civic Society newsletter January 2014: article Nottingham & Derby Architectural Society (WW1) lists members who were killed in action including a Lieutenant JH Wilson, 2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters.On 24th April 1917 the Nottinghamshire Education Committee heard that Second Lieutenant Rufus Coates Davison, a former Hucknall teacher, had been awarded the Military Cross and was the subject of an article published on the 24th April 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post which also mentioned the death of JH Wilson:- “THE FORTUNES OF WAR. “NOTTS. EDUCATION COMMITTEE REFERENCES. “Sympathy was expressed at the meeting of the Notts Education Committee this afternoon [24th April 1917] on the death in action a young officer, and satisfaction at the honour earned by a Hucknall schoolmaster now in the army. Mr. H. Mellish, who was re-elected chairman of the committee, with Mr. R. B. Bagnall-Wild vice-chairman, alluded to both matters. They would learn with regret, he observed, that Lieut. J. H. Wilson, formerly chief assistant to the committee’s architect, had fallen in action. Obtaining a commission in a county battalion, he was one four who fell in a very gallant fight recently. To Mr. R. C. Davidson, formerly a master Hucknall, belonged the distinction of having been recommended for the Military Cross.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
