Northumberland Fusiliers

[tjp28blue]

Hello,

Would be grateful for some advice. I am trying to trace the movements of Captain Charles Edgar Andrew Wilson of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was attached initially to the Northumberland Fusiliers and entered the war in France on 27th September 1916. At some point he was transferred to the 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade and spent all his war on the front line. He was severely wounded and died of his wounds on 8th April 1918. He was recommended for the MC, but perhaps because of his death it does not appear to have been awarded. I am trying to find which battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers he was with if anyone can help. Grateful also to know if the exploits of RAMC personnel are mentioned in the war diaries of the battalion they are attached to or is there another way of tracing their movements. Any help would be appreciated

Regards,

TJP

[KevinBattle]

It seems you may have seen this http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/memorials/WW1/Charles-Wilson

but in case not, I hope it helps...

Captain Charles Edgar Andrew WILSON. Royal Army Medical Corps attd Rifle Brigade.

Date of birth: 30 November 1877. Date of death: 8 April 1918

Died of wounds received in action aged 41. Buried in Entretat Churchyard Extension Plot II. C. 9

Charles Edgar Andrew was born in Hammersmith, the elder son of the Rev. Alfred Wilson, Vicar of Bedford Park, Chiswick, London and his wife Fanny, who was born in Mauritius. Educated at Ashstead, Surrey, and Charterhouse from 1891, he came up to Christ Church in 1895, and gained a Final First Class Honours in Physiology. He joined St. Thomas’s Hospital, London in 1909, graduated in 1902, and held house appointments at the General Hospital in Birmingham and at Great Ormond Street Hospital, before taking up practice in Petworth. On 23 April 1908, he married Mary Barnes Mein at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They lived at The North House, Petworth, Sussex, and on 27 February 1909 their only son Richard Nicholas was born.

Charles joined the RAMC in September 1916 as a Captain, serving in Flanders and France. He died on 8 April 1918 at No.1 General Hospital, Entretat of wounds received in action near St Quentin on 28 March. Captain Wilson’s name is on the Charterhouse Roll of Honour and there is a Memorial Plaque to him in All Hallows Church at Tillington near Petworth and in St Stephens, Gloucester Road, London http://www.theygavetheirtoday.com/gloucester-road.html

“To the glorious memory of my dear husband Charles Edgar Andrew Wilson B.A. M.B. BCh. Oxon who in 1916 gave up his practice in this neighbourhood to volunteer for active service and as Temp. Capt R.A.M.C. attd 9th Bn Rifle Brigade died on April 8th 1918 from wounds received near St. Quentin on March 28th aged 41. He lies in a soldier’s grave at Entretat, France.

One who never turned his back but marched breast forwards.

Never doubted clouds would break. Never dreamed though

right were worsted wrong would triumph.

Held we fall to rise. Are baffled to fight better. Sleep to Wake”

The Colonel of the Northumberland Fusiliers to which he was attached wrote “He was loved and admired by us all and I know that, personally, I have lost a great friend, one of the kindest and most sympathetic men I have known.” The Colonel of the Rifle Brigade wrote “He is a great loss to us all, the best doctor we ever had; we all loved him.”

He was recommended for the Military Cross for conspicuous courage and bravery under heavy fire. Probate was granted to his wife and the Public Trustee on 7 August 1918. He left £8,450 14s 3d.

I used to live near Bedford Park so he might be commemorated at St Michael and All Angels in Chiswick which was the Parish Church until St Peters in Southfield Road was completed in 1914.

I see he was educated at Charterhouse and there is an active thread on the Roll of Honour for that school, if you use the Search facility here it should lead you to it.

EDIT: Even more details including the circumstances around his death here:- http://www.ramc-ww1.com/profile.php?cPath=292_511_556&profile_id=8501&osCsid=7326968b669af351338a02e2ea3dc7c1

[tjp28blue]

Hello,

Many thanks for your replies. I have seen both the given references, but what I cannot find is more about his movements during his time with the Northumberland Fusiliers and the 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade. Hence the question about RAMC officers being included in the war diaries of their attached regiments.

Regards,

TJP