Pte William J L Wilson S/42372 Gordon Highlanders (was Some Advice Ple

[rolt968]

I have never really thought about looking at a non-commemoration before. Could people advise me if this is worth further research as possibly missing from the CWGC database?

Pte William J L Wilson, Gordon Highlanders is listed on the Edzell War Memorial. He was actually William John Lind Wilson, born 1899 in Auchindoir, Aberdeenshire. He died on 22 April 1920 in Brechin. His death record gives his occupation as "Army Pensioner" (aged 20) and his cause of death as "Phthisis Pulmonalis" (Pulmanaris?) which is a form of TB. He is buried in Edzell Cemetery in the family grave. On the gravestone it says that he "died the result of wounds received in France".

I have not so far found a MIC or SWB card that I can be sure is him. The gravestone only uses William John Wilson, so a MIC might be William, W, William J, or W J and might not be Gordon Highlanders.

The next step I think might be the WFA pension records, which I don't need for my own research, bit would be worth it for a non-commemoration.

Advice would be very welcome.

Roger.

[chrisharley9]

Morning Roger

I cannot at present find a pension record for on ancestry; what makes you think he was Gordon Highlanders?

Chris

[rolt968]

I had meant to bump this up again to see if anyone thinks this is a possible non-commemoration.

I have checked ancestry for pension and soldier's records without success. The next step should probably be the pension cards held by WFA. Would it be worth it? I have his death record (see above) and the information from the gravestone. Would the pension card add enough for the CWGC?

Roger.

[chrisharley9]

The pension card may help your case forward but there would have to be a link between service & his death

Chris

[rolt968]

I have found the local newspaper (Brechin Advertiser) report of William John Lind Wilson's death. I won't quote all of it since it is quite lengthy.

The title is "Death from Wounds Received Twenty Months Ago"

"The death occurred ............. of Pte William John L Wilson of the Gordon Highlanders from wounds received in France."

"He joined up in September 1917 and was about three months in the Air Force (sic) [RFC?] before being transferred to the Gordon Highlanders."

"Proceeding to France he was severely wounded in action in July 1918 and since that time has been in hospital except for a few weeks recently when he came home."

It looks as if he joined the RFC and was "shaken out" in one of the searches for fit men not serving at the front. He may have been transferred when he reached the age to serve abroad. He could actually have requested transfer.

This is beginning to look very interesting. I will see if I can get copies of his pension cards.

Can any one tell me?

If he was continuously in hospital from July 1918 until early 1920, at what point/date would he have been discharged from the army?

R.

[Phil Evans]

Going by one of my cases a few years ago, he would have been discharged as soon as he was diagnosed as likely to be unfit for further service. i.e. very soon after being admitted.

Here is a brief summary, to give you some idea. The man is Wallace Ambrose Truscott, Rifleman 303020, 2/5^th Bn London Regiment

On 20^th September 1917, Wallace was wounded in action near Ypres. He was evacuated to England and admitted to the Northumberland War Hospital on 28^th September, his principal injury being a gun shot wound to the back, resulting in paralysis of the lower limbs. An X-ray showed a bullet lodged in his spine, which was fractured.

A Medical Board held on 8^th October 1917 found for Total Incapacity, attributable to Active Service.

Wallace was discharged on 29^th October 1917 under KR 392 Para xvi. He was awarded a full pension.

From his Death Certificate, Wallace died on 13^th May 1918 in Lewisham War Hospital. The causes of death were (1) Gunshot wound of the spinal cord. (2) Paralysis. Exhaustion.

Phil

[rolt968]

An update:

I've had an e-mail from WFA today. They have not found any pension records for William John Lind Wilson!

I will need to think what to do next!

(Incidentally they also did not find any pension records for my other search candidate whose number, unit and date of death in Flanders and widow's name I could supply.)

R.

[rolt968]

Another update:

I have had another e-mail from WFA yesterday. They have found a card and there may be a ledger entry.

I can now add a little more information

Private William John [Lind] Wilson, S/42372, 1/6 Gordon Highlanders. (I can now identify both Medal Rolls Index Card and Medal Roll.

He is reported as wounded in the Aberdeen Daily Journal of 4 September 1918 (A very long list!). Does this seem a wee bit late for being wounded in July 1918?

R.

[ss002d6252]

He is reported as wounded in the Aberdeen Daily Journal of 4 September 1918 (A very long list!). Does this seem a wee bit late for being wounded in July 1918?

I have seen gaps of 6 months or so between injury and appearing on a casualty list (this was 1915)

Craig

[rolt968]

Thanks Craig,

Thinking about it again depending on which end of July he was wounded it is only between 5 and 9 weeks.

I have checked both ancestry and fmp; there does not seem to have been a Silver War Badge.

I'll mull over the pension card I have so far for a while.

R.

[Theletterwriter]

Roger

Unfortunately I cannot add too much to help you but his death certificate indicates he died on 20 April 1920. His death notice is in the Dundee Courier of 23 April 1920 and it says he died of wounds.

Douglas

[rolt968]

Thanks Douglas,

I hadn't noticed the Courier death notice. (Too busy reading his write up in the Brechin Advertiser!) I will look it up.

Edit: Extra thanks. The death notice gives a different burial date, which I think must be the correct one as the other was before 23 April!

R.

[rolt968]

The only pension card I have for William J L Wilson at present is a plain file card with what are effectively three sets of superimposed writing. Apologies I am still unable to post clips!

The first set of writing is in blue ink:

Wilson William John

Gor: Hders 42372

19373

19.3.20

1. S.A.P. 7340 [scored out in red - see below]
   

Ad: 1.4.20 at 40/- from 20.2.20

to 21.9.20 Chelsea No. M.A.B. 6217

Received 7.4.20

[The last three lines are a rubber stamp image - the underlined sections are the filled in entries.]

Superimposed is the following in red ink written diagonally:

Deceased

R ⁴/₂ ^x 8

1/MW/4768

Further superimposed is the following in pencil:

Died 20.4.20

PPS 49723

Passed 1.12.20

The whole card has a diagonal pencil score across it.

The information at the top seems straightforward. except was 19373 another serial number?

The information in the rubber stamp is presumably an award including a Pensioner Number.

Can anyone make anything of the rest?

R.

[rolt968]

Another update:

I have just received another pension document from WFA. There is quite a bit to decipher. However two entries are very legible.

Under "Disabilities"

1. G.S.W. Ankle

2. T.B. Lungs

Under "State whether attributable to or aggravated by Service or non attributable:-"

Both 1 & 2 are marked "due to".

I think this may be a non-commemoration.

R.

[chrisharley9]

Drop me a PM & we will sort it for you

Chris

[rolt968]

_{Commemorated.}

_{http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=227791&hl=lind}

[Theletterwriter]