Private William Wilson

Private William Wilson, “D” Coy.,1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France on 15th September 1916, aged 19, during the Battle of the Somme. He was the son of Mrs Margaret Speirs of 11 Kiln Hill, Tweedmouth and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Somme, France. He fell in an attack near the infamous High Wood where confused fighting and the artillery barrage falling short caused many casualties. 4 Officers and 114 Other Ranks were killed and 7 Officers and 219 Other Ranks were wounded. The photos show troops on the Somme. The photo shows the impressive Memorial raised to commemorate the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division of which the Battalion was part until February 1918. It was erected near the village of Weiltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby the Division had fought its first action during the Battle of St Julien on 26th April 1915 only days after landing on the Continent.