Private William Wilson

Private William Wilson, 9th ( Service ) Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in action in France in the defence of Arras on 28th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive, aged 19. He had enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in June 1916 and later transferred into the Black Watch. He had been born in Coldstream and was the son of William and Phoebe Wilson of 3 Abbey Road, Coldstream and is buried in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt, France. Before enlisting he had been employed by Messrs Turner and Son Bakers of Coldstream. He fell in attempting to hold the German attacks on and around ” Invergordon Trench “. Such was the magnitude of the German casualties no further major attempts were made to capture Arras. The Battalion paid a heavy price with 6 Officers and 95 Other Ranks killed and 1 Officer and 122 Other Ranks were wounded. His Headstone is inscribed ” Beloved Son of William and Phoebe Wilson, Coldstream. Death before Dishonour “. The photographs show Allied troops in makeshift defences preparing to resist the German advances.