Biography of Corporal Charles Wilson (427362) MM
3rd Battalion Canadian Light Trench Mortar Battery
Died 28th September 1918

Soldier

  • Name: Charles Wilson
  • Date of birth: 26th September 1892
  • Place of Birth: Baston, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: October – December 1892
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
Father

  • Name: John Thomas Wilson
  • DOB: 1862
  • Place of Birth: Langtoft, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Labourer on farm.

Mother

  • Name: Sarah Jane Allam
  • DOB: 1863
  • Place Of Birth: Baston, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 30th June 1884 Baston, Lincolnshire, England

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • John William Wilson, 1885, Baston
  • Sarah Elizabeth Wilson, 1888, Baston
  • Charles Wilson, 1892, Baston
  • Ellen Wilson, 1895, Baston
  • Harry Wilson, 1897, Baston
  • Florence Wilson, 1900, Baston
  • Constance Wilson, 1902, Baston

Census

  • 1901: Charles is living with his parents at Reeless Lane, Baston, Lincolnshire.
  • 1911: Charles is living with the Woodward Family Uffington Fen, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 18 and he is listed as a 2nd waggoner.
Relatives in services

  • None found
Marriage

  • No marriage for Charles has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

  • London Gazette Monday 19th November 1917
  • 427362 Cpl C. Wilson, Inf.

 

  • Lincolnshire Free Press Tuesday 27th November 1917
  • BASTON CORPORAL WINS THE MILITARY MEDAL.
  • Cpl. C. Wilson, of the Canadian Scottish, who belongs to Baston, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the battlefield, for carrying a comrade off in the face of shot and shell. Corpl. Wilson went to Canada in 1912 and joined the Canadians in July, 1915, and came to England in October. He went to France in June, 1916 and came home on leave in September, 1917. He told his parents about the award of the medal when he was at home, and he received it when he got back again to France.

 

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • Available
Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • None found

Pension Records

  • None found

Effects Left To

  • Mother Sarah Jane
  • Father John Thomas

Medals

  • British Medal
  • Victory Medal
  • Military Medal
Why he was awarded the Military Medal.

  • For courage and resourcefulness displayed on Aug: 15th 1917. This N.C.O. showed remarkable courage in placing his stokes Mortar in position in our new line. Although subjected to an intense enemy fire, he stuck by his gun and assisted in repelling repeated heavy counter-attacks by the enemy. His coolness and courage at all times was noble example to his own and the other gun crews in the vicinity. On a previous occasion June 25th 1917 – this N.C.O. saved a wounded comrade’s life be carrying him under heavy fore to a dressing station.

 

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Baston, Roll of Honour in St John the Baptist Church

 

© Diane Savage (Baston Church)

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • In March 1912 there was a Charles Wilson departing Liverpool on the 17th March for Halifax on the Allen Line ship Hisperian. This Charles is listed as a labourer.

    There is a second listing for a Charles Wilson on the White Star Lines ship Canada, departing from. Liverpool on the 18th May 1912 bound for Quebec in third class. He is listed as a bricklayer, travelling without wife and intending to live in Canada.

    We later find a Chas Wilson in August 1913 arriving in Canada on an incoming passenger list. The list is for third class passenger’s on the ship Canada, he is 21 years of age and is listed as a labourer. He gives his intended location in Canada as Winnipeg and claims to be looking for work as a labourer.

    Charles Wilson decides to join the Army in 1915 and files an attestation in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, on the 2nd July 1915.

    He says he was born in Baston Lincolnshire  and gives his occupation as a farmer.

    Charles was now Private 427362 and was initially attached to the 46th Battalion.

    The Battalion Diaries are not available on line but luckily we can piece together a basic story of Charles’ war from the detailed Canadian Service Records.

    Charles Wilson sailed from Halifax on the 23rd October 1915 onboard the S.S. Lapland bound for England. He landed and disembarked in Devonport on the 30th October 1915 as part of the 46th Battalion, C Company.

    On the 28th February 1916, whilst with the 46th Battalion Private Charles Wilson signed his Military Will;
    In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs S.J. Wilson, Baston, Peterborough.

    Charles was eventually posted for overseas service to France on the 16th June 1916, landing there on the 17th June and arriving with his unit on the 20th June 1916.

    It would later that month when he was transferred to the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) arriving with them on the 1st July 1916.

    On 24th March 1917 Charles was admitted No 18 General Hospital in Camiers  with furunculosis of the left knee (Boils). He was subsequently admitted to No 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples (ICT Left Knee) on the 6th April, then one day later on the 7th admitted into No 5 Convalescent Deport in Cayeux.

    He was in this convalescent depot for 12 days before being despatched to his Base depot in Havre on the 19th April.  From  the base depot he was sent to rejoin his unit on the 29th April.

    In September 1917 Charles came home on 10 days leave to Baston and told his Parents about his impending award of the Military Medal.

    Charles was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Light Trench Mortar battery on the 1st October 1917.

    On the 18th November 1917 Charles was promoted to Corporal in the field and then on the following day was awarded the Military Medal.

    The following was the official citation:
    For courage and resourcefulness displayed on Aug: 15th 1917. This N.C.O. showed remarkable courage in placing his stokes Mortar in position in our new line. Although subjected to an intense enemy fire, he stuck by his gun and assisted in repelling repeated heavy counter-attacks by the enemy. His coolness and courage at all times was noble example to his own and the other gun crews in the vicinity. On a previous occasion June 25th 1917 – this N.C.O. saved a wounded comrade’s life be carrying him under heavy fire to a dressing station.

    The action of the 15th August was most likely part of the battle for Hill 70 (Battle of Lens)

    29th May 1918 there was an entry in his service record to say that he was still serving with the 3rd Canadian Trench Mortar Battery.

    30st August 1918 Charles was sent on a course of instruction with the light trench Mortar school, rejoining his unit on the 15th September 1918, only three days later

    Corporal Charles Wilson was Killed in action on 18th September 1918 by way of an aeroplane bomb whilst serving with the 16th battalion, 3rd Canadian Light Trench Mortar Battery.

    On the 27th September The 1st Canadian Division including the 3rd Canadian Brigade (3rd Trench Mortar being part of this) was involved in the Battle of the Canal Du Nord, which included the attack to take the village of Marquoin. This battle was a precursor to set up the Battle of Cambrai which would take place less than 2 weeks later.

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office