James Wilson (my second cousin twice removed) was born in
1894 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was the third son of Shem Edward and
Elizabeth Wilson (nee Harding). James had two older brothers Shem Edward (born
1888) and Albert (born 1889). He also had two younger brothers Horace (born
1897) and Frank (born 1899) and three younger sisters Lizzie (born 1901),
Lavinia (born 1903) and Irene (born 1907).
James’ father Shem was the adopted son of William and
Harriet Hollins (nee Deakin). In 1911 the Wilson family was living at 60 Queen
Street, Rugeley, with James aged 16 employed as a grocery sugar wrapper. His
father was employed in the local Stokes and Negus Phoenix Tannery as was his
father’s step brother William Hollins who was living at 64 Queen Street,
Rugeley. William’s sons George was living at 24 Queen Street and Charles at 45
Queen Street.
William Hollins had two other sons, William who was working on
muntions and
Horace who had been
killed in April 1916, his wife moved back to 73 Queen Street after his death. His son in law James Fisher in the attack on the
Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos in Oct
1915.
James Wilson had enlisted in Birmingham and was serving as a
Lance Corporal in the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards.
The Battle of Cambrai had launched on November 20th
and for the first time had used a coordinated approach of tactics, infantry and more
importantly massed tanks. Compared with the recent slog at the Battle of Passchendaele, the initial phase was regarded as a huge
success, with considerable territorial gains made for, in First World War terms,
relatively small losses. However, the attack stalled attempting to capture
Bourlon Wood and on November 30th the Germans launched their counter
attack.
Units hurriedly ordered to shore
up the clearly splintering defence were shocked at what they saw. Not least of
them was the Guards Division, still recuperating from a mauling in Fontaine
Notre Dame and now heading into what would become a bitter fight to hold the
enemy at Gouzeaucourt:
“First we had to struggle through the flood of
terrified men … nothing seemed to stem the torrent of frightened men with eyes
of hunted deer, without rifles or equipment, among them half-dressed officers
presumably surprised in their sleep, and gunners who had had the sense and
calmness to remove the breech blocks from their guns and were carrying them in
their hands. Many were shouting alarming rumours, others yelling “Which is the
nearest way to the coast?”
Ref - Norman D. Cliff, To hell and back with the
Guards (Braunton, Devon: Merlin Books Limited, 1988) p.85
The War Diary for the 3rd Battalion reads as follows
Nov 30th
The Battn, in conjunction with the 2nd Bn Coldstream guards and the
1st bat Irish guards counter attacked the enemy and retook
GOUZEAUCOURT. A line was consolidated on the far side of the village.
Dec 1st.
Orders were received at 3am for the bttn. To attack the QUENTIN RIDGE in
conjunction with the 2nd Bat Grenadier guards on the right and the 3rd
Grenadier batt. On the left. The attack was successful, largely through the
gallant behaviour of the tanks – 4 of which were attached to the battn. They
put into position a few minutes before zero and little could be given them in
the way of information as to the objective, Officers who took part in the
attack say that it is doubtful if the battn. Would have reached its objective
with enough men to consolidate had it not been for the tanks.
The Battn. Was
relieved during the night of Dec 1st and 2nd by the 1st
Bat Grenadier guards.
Casualties 30th
Nov
Officers 9 wounded
Other ranks 6 killed
83 wounded 3 missing
Casualties Dec 1st
Officers 3 killed 2
wounded
Other ranks 9 killed
100 wounded 8 missing
James Wilson aged 23 was killed on the 1st
December 1917. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de
Calais.
|
Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery |
Originally buried as an unknown British solider, he was
identified by Khaki, boots, badges, numerals
Among his effects which were forwarded to base was a Gold
ring with initials J.W. inscribed on the outside and on the inside of ring the
initials V.S.
James’ parents Shem & Elizabeth have the grave inscribed
“Gone but not forgotten”
One can only imagine the sense of loss felt by his parents Shem and
Elizabeth, it was not their first experience.
James’ younger brother Horace had been killed on the first
day of the Somme on the 1
st July 1916.
Horace had originally enlisted with the Grenadier Guards on the 7
th
December 1914 in Hednesford stating he was 19 years 3 months. Horace was born
in 1897 making him 17 in 1914. Previous to enlisting he was employed as a
miner. Horace was 5ft 10 with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He
was discharged 6 days later on 12
th December due to likely to become
an efficient solider on the grounds of amblyopia vision in both eyes.
Amblyopia is more commonly known as
lazy eye. A “lazy eye” is not lazy at all. Recent research has shown that
amblyopia is a disorder of the brain’s ability to use both eyes together as a
team. Amblyopia is an active process due to suppression, or the brain
actively ignoring the information coming from one eye. In addition to
poor visual acuity, people with amblyopia are more prone to have difficulties
with depth perception, eye movements related to reading, and visual decision
making.
Despite his poor eyesight, at some
point Horace re-enlisted with the North
Staffordshire Regiment and was a member of D coy 1/6th Battalion.
And on the 1st July Horace was in the trenches preparing for the
attack on Gommecourt Wood.
1/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment War Diary – 1st
July 1916
Battalion in trenches at Fonquevillers preparatory to an attack on
Gommecourt Wood and Village. Battalion on right, 6th South Staffs
Regt, Battalion on left, 7th Notts & Derby Regt. The attack was
preceded by an intense bombardment lasting 65 minutes and the infantry assault
took place at 7.30am under cover of a smoke barrage. The attack was carried out
by means of four waves, each wave consisting of one platoon per company. The 1st
wave occupied the assault trench, the 2nd & 3rd waves
the fire trench and the fourth wave the Retrenchment. These were followed by
consolidating and carrying parties, found by the 5th North Staffs.
Immediately the smoke appeared the enemy opened heavy machine gun fire and
barraged our front line. Whilst the assault was in progress this fire caused
heavy casualties which occurred chiefly in the first four waves. The casualties
so depleted the strength of the waves that very few men succeeded in reaching
the enemy wire, which was found to be very strong in parts. Owing to the smoke
many men lost direction and were unable to see the gaps in the wire. Previous
heavy rain had made the trenches in a very bad condition, especially the
assault trench, which was from 2 to 3 feet deep in mud. This caused delay in
the waves leaving the trenches. The enemy front line trench was found to be
very strongly held and with so few men left it was impossible to advance. After
this, those who had not become casualties retired to the assault trench.
Nothing of note occurred between this and 5pm when the battalion was relieved
by the 5th North Staffs and proceeded to Siamand and billeted.
Casualty Return
Officers – Killed 8, Missing 4, Wounded 6
Other ranks – Killed 34, Missing 122, Wounded 170
Horace Wilson was reported as missing in action in September 1916 but
it wasn’t until the following year that the Lichfield Mercury reported his
death.
Lichfield Mercury Friday 15th June 1917 –
Local Casualties
Mr & Mrs S Wilson of Queen Street, Rugeley, have now received
official notification that their son Pte. Horace Wilson, who was reported
missing July 1st 1916, must now be presumed to have been killed in
action on that date. Pte. Wilson was a member of the local territorials and
joined the North Staffs Regiment at the outbreak of the war, went out to France
in the early part of 1915 and took part in several engagements, his last being
the battle of the Somme, since when he has not been heard of. Another brother
Pte. Wilson, died in hospital in the early part of last year, a few months
after joining the army.
Horace’s body was never recovered and he is commemorated on
Thiepval memorial on pier and face 14B and 14C
The other brother was most likely to have been Pte. Harry
Wilson who died on the 8th February 1915 and was serving with the
Army Service Corps. Harry is buried at Rugeley Cemetery.
All three Wilson brothers are commemorated on Rugeley War
memorial.
|
Rugeley War Memorial Panel |
Horace Wilson is also commemorated on the Ancient Order of Foresters memorial in Rugeley
|
Ancient Order of Foresters Memorial - Rugeley |
My Great Uncle Edward Hollins sounded the Last Post when this Memorial was first dedicated. Horace Hollins is also commemorated on both memorials
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
website
Staffordshire Roll of Honour
website