Walter William Wilson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Walter was born in 1893 in Huthwaite and was the son of Henry a coal miner and Hannah Wilson née Hill. His father Henry was born in 1860 in Huthwaite, his mother Hannah was born in 1861 also in Huthwaite, they married in June 1884 in the Mansfield Registration district , they went on to have 9 children , however sadly three of them died in infancy prior to the 1911 census. Their children were : - Charles H b1885, Annie b1888, John A b1889, Walter W b1893, Susan S b1901. In the 1911 the family lived at 43 Common Road, Huthwaite and were shown as , Henry head of the family 51 yrs a colliery banksman, living with his wife Hannah 50 yrs and their children, John A 22 yrs a colliery banksman, Walter W 18 yrs a pony driver at a colliery, Susan S 15 yrs and Alice 10 yrs. In June 1915 in the Mansfield Registration district he married Gladys Ellis (born 3rd June 1895) and they went to live at 34 Park Street, Sutton in Ashfield. Commencing 12th February 1917 his widow was awarded a pension of 10 shillings a week.
Walter enlisted on 6th November 1915 giving his place of birth as Huthwaite and his place of residence as Sutton in Ashfield. He served with the 12th battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. He landed in France on 21st May 1915. He was killed in action on 5th July 1916 when a shell exploded near him killing him and two of his comrades. He has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.
Notts Free Press - 11th August 1918. PRIVATE W.W. WILSON. That another Sutton soldier, in the person of Private W.W. Wilson, of the Sherwood Foresters, has paid the supreme sacrifice, will be gathered from the following letters:- Writing to Mr. J. Smith, of 34, Park Street, Sutton, Bomb. Gibson, of the R.F.A., says:- "You will be surprised to receive this letter and photo which I received from a comrade to-day. This comrade came into our camp and we were talking about the war and how it was getting on. He had just returned from the front lines, where he had had the job of stretcher bearer and the solemn work of burying the dead, and he had several things he had picked up. Among them were eleven photos, two of which I am sending to you. He asked me and two of my comrades to look after them. I knew you at first glance, and I also know the young lady by sight, so I am sending them on to you. I am very sorry indeed to say that the comrade who gave them to me had the solemn task of laying to rest the person who possessed them, whom I believed to be Walter Wilson, of Sutton-in-Ashfield. I am also sending you the address of the comrade who picked them up so that you can write to him. He tells me that Walter was wounded, and before he could be got away a shell came and killed him and two others. My comrades and I are very sorry to send you such bad news of one of your friends, but we thought you would like the photos. I must now close, sending you my deepest sympathy." Mrs. Wilson, who lives with her uncle and aunt (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) received the following letter, dated July 12th, from an English Hospital:- "I hope you will excuse me for writing these few lines to you, but I think it is the least thing I can do to let you know that poor old Walter got killed. I regret to have to send such news to anyone, but he was such a good pal to me ever since we came out, and I find it hard to write on such a subject. I hope you will accept my greatest sympathy, for it seems so hard to lose such a pal, but please don't take it too hard, and I know it will be a great knock for you, for he died for his country, and the regiment has got a good name, so it is something to be proud of. Please accept my greatest sympathy - I can do no more. He was in my section and we were all proud of him. I can tell you it is a great loss to us all.- A. Varnam, B Coy. 1st Sherwood Foresters." The late soldier, who was 23 years of age, considered his duty to do what he could for the country and enlisted on November 6th, 1915, leaving home to go into training some three days later. About Easter of last year he was drafted to France, where he remained until his death on July 5th, 1916. A native of Huthwaite, he worked at the New Hucknall Colliery, and, immediately before enlisting, at the B Winning Colliery. During the whole period of his training he had but one leave during which time he was married to Miss G. Ellis, and it is particularly sad that they should have passed only a few days together at their home at Sutton-in-Ashfield.
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