Private G/66018 Frederick Wilson

Photograph courtesy of great-grandson Mark Wilson.

Killed in Action on Thursday, 22nd November 1917, age 38.
Commemorated on Panel 3 and 4 of Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France.

1st/2nd City of London Battalion TF (Royal Fusiliers). 169th Brigade of 56th Division.
Formerly TR/615960 12th Training Battalion, and 30827 Norfolks.

Husband of Mrs Ruth Wilson, of 9 Ballfields, Tipton Staffs.
Born: Wolverhampton, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Horseley Heath.

First landed France & Flanders, 21st May 1917.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and Salem Chapel memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1757951/frederick-wilson/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Frederick Wilson registered June quarter 1879 in Dudley.

1901 Census
20 Providence Street, Tipton, Staffs.
John Wilson (44, Boiler Maker, born West Bromwich), his wife Elizabeth (44, born Bilston), and their 7 children: Frederick (22, Grocer's Assistant, born Sedgley), John T. (20, Boiler Maker, born Sedgley), Sarah E. (18, born Sedgley), Samuel (15, Boiler Maker, born Tipton), James E. (11, born Tipton), Annie (9, born Tipton), and Albert V. (5, born Tipton).

Marriage of Frederick Wilson and Ruth Sheldon registered June quarter 1905 in West Bromwich (married on 24th April 1905).

1911 Census
9 Ballfields, Tipton, Staffs.
Charles Sheldon (58, Milk Vendor, born West Bromwich), his daughter Ruth Wilson (30, Tailoress, born Tipton), and her husband Frederick Wilson (32, Grocer's Assistant, born Bradley).

Frederick and Ruth's son, Clarence Arthur Wilson, was born 24th May 1914. His birth was registered June quarter 1914 in Dudley.

Personal Data

Frederick attested on 7th June 1916, and was placed on reserve until he was mobilised on 24th January 1917. He was posted to the 12th Training Reserve Battalion, and 4 months later, on 20th May 1917, was compulsorily transferred to the Norfolk Regiment. On the next day, 21st May, he landed in France and was posted to the 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Just 3 weeks later, on 12th June, Frederick was again on the move, this time transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

After Frederick's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £4/11/10d (4 pounds, 11 shillings and 10 pence); this was paid to his widow Ruth in June 1918. His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was paid to his widow Ruth in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Frederick had enlisted within the previous 12 months.

Frederick's widow, Ruth, was awarded a grant of £5/0/0d which was paid on 18th December 1917, and also a Widow's Pension of £1/0/5d (1 pound and 5 pence) per week for herself and son Clarence Arthur, effective from 17th June 1918. This was re-calculated at £1/4/0d (1 pound and 4 shillings) per week from 1st October 1918 under the terms of 'Alternative Pensions' which catered for men who had been higher paid. Ruth's address was then given as 9 Ballfields, Tipton.

Action resulting in his death

The London Regiment was unusual in that all of its 28 Battalions in existence at the outbreak of war were Territorial. They included numerous famous battalions such as the Artist’s Rifles, Post Office Rifles, Civil Service Rifles, London Scottish, and the Honourable Artillery Company.

One of the conditions for each Territorial battalion to serve abroad was that a secondary battalion be formed to take up their home service obligation. At this time, the 2nd (City of London) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers became the 1/2nd (City of London), and the newly formed battalion became the 2/2nd (City of London). The first 4 battalions were associated with the other London-based regiment, the Royal Fusiliers who did not have any Territorial battalions of their own.

Frederick served with the 1/2nd (City of London) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

56th Division were at Cambrai (extreme northern end) and were involved in:
- the capture of Tadpole Copse (21 November)
- the capture of Bourlon Wood (23 - 28 November).

Newspaper Cuttings

None.