Name
A A Filsell (*1 Served as A A Wilson)
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9990
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial(*1), Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross
Pre War
Alfred Aaron Filsell – Alias Alfred Aaron Wilson
Alfred Aaron Filsell was born in Tottenham, Edmonton, Middlesex, in 1895, son of George Henry/Harry Filsell a, Greengrocer and Florence Filsell (nee Dole). One of seven children.
Baptised on 21st December 1898, at Christ Church, Stratford, Essex.
1901 Census records Alfred aged 6, living with his parents, three sisters Flossie (13), Sophia (2) Minnie (3 months) and brother George (11) at, 40 Grace Road, West Ham, London/Essex.
1911 the family are now living in Waltham Cross, Herts. Alfred now 16, had left school and was working as a Cordite Reeler, living with his parents, three sisters Sophia (12), Minnie (10), Eva (4) and brother Arthur (7) at, 67 Crescent Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
In April 1912, Alfred travelled to the County Town of Hertford and enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment under the alias Alfred Aaron Wilson, he was issued the service number 9990.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, Alfred was still serving with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. They were stationed at Mullingar, Ireland. The Battalion was mobilized for war and sailed from Belfast aboard the S.S. “Oronsay” on the evening of 14th August 1914, arriving at La Havre, France, on the night of 15th. They disembarked on the 16th and the Battalion marched to the rest camp which was at the top of a hill. They left Le Havre by train for Pommereuil, on 18th arriving the following day.
On the 22nd August 1914, the Battalion was at Bois Boussu, Belgium, about 6 miles S W of Mons.
The Battalion was involved in the Battle on Mons (23rd Aug 1914) and the subsequent retreat.
Alfred received a Gun Shot Wound (GSW) to his left thigh on 16th September 1914, admitted to 14th Field Ambulance, then transferred to 2nd General Hospital, on 20th September 1914. On his recovery Alfred returned to his Battalion.
Alfred was Killed in Action on 5th May 1915, during an attack by the enemy, initially with asphyxiating gas then an assault on our trenches in the area of Hill 60. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
Additional Information
*1 Alfred Aaron Filsell enlisted under the alias Alfred Aaron Wilson and is recorded as A. A. Wilson on the CWGC records, no A. A. Filsell was found in the CWGC records. The Cheshunt War Memorial records an, A. A. Filsell and A. A. Wilson, we believe them to be the same person.
The Waltham Cross memorial records only A. A. Filsell.
His effects of £12-17s-2d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £5, went to his father George Filsell.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
