Name
Horace George Wilson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31019
Northamptonshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 43 and 45.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Folly Methodist Chapel Window, Wheathampstead
Pre War
Horace was born in Wheathampstead in 1879 to Edward Wilson, a coal carter, and Martha (nee Harvey. On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Edward (born 1876) and Horace were living at Wheathampstead Hill. Horace’s father died in autumn 1884. On the 1891 Census Horace was living with his widowed mother. Edward, now a houseboy, and younger sister Elisabeth (born 1882). On the 1901 Census Horace, by now a house painter, was a visitor at the Parsons of 11 Green street, Paddington, London. His mother Martha was registered living alone in Wheathampstead.
Horace married Louisa Parsons at St Mary’s, Paddington on 4 Jun 1906. There were to be two children – Edward George (born 1907) and Elsie Louisa (born 1909). On the 1911 Census the family were living at the Folly, Wheathampstead.
Wartime Service
Horace was enlisted in Northamptonshire Regiment as Private 31019. No Service Record could be found for Horace.
He was posted to 2nd Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment who as part of 8th Division had been in France since Nov 1914. Horace took part in battle of Pilckem on 31 July 1917. This the opening day of the major 3rd Ypres (Paschendaele) campaign and the 8th Division advanced towards Westhoek and took their initial objectives relatively easily. The southern flank then became exposed to German machine-gun fire from Nonne Boschen and Glencorse Wood, due to the failure of 30th Division further south.
Horace was reported killed in this action. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 2s 8d was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
