Name
Charles Nottingham Wilson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/03/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
702635
London Regiment
23rd (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DAMASCUS COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETERY
E. 14.
Syria
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Born on 15 June 1886 and baptised on 15 August 1886 at St Peter ad Vinacula in Stoke-on-Trent, Charles Nottingham Wilson was the eldest son of William Nottingham and Julia Mary (nee Alfieri) Wilson. His parents were married on 21 June 1883 at Holy Trinity church in Northwood, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
At the 1891 census, Charles was four years old and living with his parents and two siblings, named Bernard S and Doris M, at ‘Northwood’ in Chichele Road, Willesden. William and Julia were 34 and 32 years old respectively and William was working as a solicitor. Bernard was 2 years old, and Doris was 11 months old. Also present were Julia’s brothers Bernard and Ernest, who were 29 and 25 years old respectively, and her sister Emily who was 23 years old. Birthplaces were given as Hanley in Staffordshire for William and Julia, Stoke-on-Trent for Charles and Bernard, Cricklewood for Doris and Northwood in Staffordshire for Julia’s three siblings.
William Nottingham Wilson died, aged 39, in the third quarter of 1895 in the registration district of Hendon, which included Willesden.
By the time of the 1901 census, Julia had moved to ‘Highfield’ in Duchess Road, Bushey with Doris and her younger brother named Hugh. He was 8 years old and had been born in Cricklewood. Also present was a general domestic servant. Charles was not present, and he is recorded as a delivery clerk at Campden station, working for the London and North Western railway (LNWR) which he joined on 31 October 1901. It appears he may have been working at Broad Street station prior to joining the staff at Campden.
By the time of the 1911 census, Julia had moved again to 64 Falconer Road in Bushey. Charles was back living at home with two of his siblings, Bernard Samuel and Hugh Marriner Wilson. Charles was still working as a clerk for LNWR in the Audit Office at Euston. Bernard and Hugh were newspaper office clerks for the Daily Mirror. Also present was boarder, Frederick John Shorter, who was a merchant’s clerk.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted on 15 May 1915 at Oxford Street, London for the duration of the war. He gave his profession as a railway clerk and he was measured as 5 feet 6 inches tall. Originally serving as Private 4773 with the 9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) of the London Regiment, he was later transferred as Private 702635 with the 23rd (County of London) Battalion.
Charles served at Home from 15 May 1915 to 24 June 1916. He was embarked from Southampton on 25 June 1916, disembarking at La Havre on 26 June 1916. He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France. He was subsequently embarked on 3 December 1916 at Marseilles, sailing to Salonika where he disembarked on 14 December 1916. He served there until 14 June 1917 before being embarked on 15 June for Alexandria. He then served with Egyptian Expeditionary Force until he was killed in action on 29 March 1918 in Syria. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
He is remembered with honour at the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery in Syria and his headstone has a personal inscription which reads: “IN LOVING MEMORY MAY HE FOR EVER REST IN PEACE”. He is also commemorated at St James’ Parish Church and on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church in Oxhey and on his grandfather's grave in Hanley Cemetery, Staffordshire.
There is an article about Charles in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 20 April 1918.
Charles’ pension card named his mother as his dependant with an address of 3 Woodend, Sutton in Surrey. She was awarded a pension of 12 shillings 6 pence per week with effect from 15 October 1918.
He also has an entry in the National Probate Calendar for 1919, which reads: "WILSON Charles Nottingham of 3 Wood End Sutton Garden Suburb Surrey private 2/23rd London regiment died 29 March 1918 in Palestine Administration London 22 May to Julia Mary Wilson widow. Effects £463 15s."
Julia died, aged 84, in 1943 in the Surrey Mid E district.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk).
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
