William Wilson likeness

William Wilson cap badgePrivate William Wilson

36th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Service No: 124509

William Wilson grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of David and Margaret Wilson of 30 Laird St, Coatbridge. William's elder brother Private David Wilson (S/4028) of the 1st Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Died of Wounds on the 18/06/1915. Elder brother Alexander was with the 10th (Service) Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). In his Will dated 25/01/1918 William left all his belongings to his father. From the 1901 Census - Address - 8a Carradale St, Coatbridge - David Wilson aged 48, Margaret Wilson aged 40 , James Wilson aged 21, Alexander Wilson aged 16, Mary J Wilson aged 14, David Wilson aged 12, William Wilson aged 10. William's Pension was awarded to his father David on the 25/11/1918.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 30 Laird St, Coatbridge

Died

Died of Wounds on the 27/04/1918 at the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, Esquelberq. Wounds received at the Battles of the Lys

Enlisted

Coatbridge /08/1917

Employed

Union Tube Works

Age

27

Buried / Remembered

Esquelbecq Military Cemetery (I. A. 22), Nord, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918, although one French grave was added in 1919 and one British soldier from 1916 was added later from an isolated site. The cemetery was used again during the Second World War, mainly for the burial of those killed during the German advance of May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk. Esquelbecq Military Cemetery contains 578 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 47 from the Second World War. There are also 11 French and German burials.

Additional Information

The 36th Battalion were part of the 36th (Ulster) Division. They were formed on the 02/03/1918 from the Machine-Gun Companies of the Division. The Division took part in the First Battle of Kemmel, 17th - 19th April 1918. This was part of the Battles of the Lys, 9th April - 29th April 1918 : The third German offensive Operation Georgette takes place in Flanders with the objective of capturing key railway and supply roads and cutting off British Second Army at Ypres. After initial successes the German attack is once again held after British and French reserves are somehow found and deployed. SEE PHOTOS x 21 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY APRIL 1918. William was formerly with the Gordon Highlanders (18954). His Grave photo donated by Mick McCann at the britishwargraves.co.uk. See Directory for William's brother David's page. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Pension Record x 3, Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, his previous Regiment the Gordon Highlanders Regiment Cap Badge, the Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge and William's Victory Medal x 3 (kindly sent to me by David Owens).

Photos
William Wilson Medal Index CardWilliam Wilson newspaper clippingWilliam Wilson newspaper clippingWilliam Wilson newspaper clippingWilliam Wilson remembered at homeWilliam Wilson remembered at homeWilliam Wilson remembered at homeWilliam Wilson remembered at homeWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photoWilliam Wilson additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

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