2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, 26 September 1916
Synopsis of Life and Military Service
George Wilson was born circa 1892 at Loanhead, Midlothian to his parents George and Mary who were crofters. Little is know of his early life apart from he was employed as a farm servant in the north of Banffshire, Scotland. He was later employed within the Edinburgh City Police Force and appears to have enlisted at Edinburgh in May 1915, as noted in the Roll of Employees of the Corporation of Edinburgh, at the time he gave his home address as West Deuchries (Farm), Alvah Banffshire. This date of enlistment is further confirmed with his training unit photograph which was taken on June 1915. Following his training at Pirbright, Surrey, he was sent to the French / Flanders Theatre of war sometime into 1916.
On the 25th and 26th September 1916 as part of the Battle of the Somme Campaign, the 2nd Scots Guards were involved in the Battle of Morval which commenced on the 25th and ended on the 28th. This was an attack on the villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs which were held by the 1st German Army. It was during this offensive that George Wilson was killed, it appears that his place of burial had been logged at a point South East of Gueudecourt, south of Bapaume, however, following extensive searching in late 1918 by working parties specifically detailed, no trace of his grave was found. As a result, he is honoured and remembered on the memorial to the missing of the Somme on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
His father George was the sole ligate to his belongings and pension.
Aberdeen Press and Journal
Extract from the above publication dated 18 October 1916 :-
PRIVATE WILSON, ALVAH
Mr George Wilson, West Duchies, Alvah has received official intimation that his only son, Private George Wilson has been killed in action in France. Private Wilson was at one time a farm servant at Mill of Alvah, and joined the Scots Guards shortly after the outbreak of the war while he was a member of the Edinburgh City Police Force.
War Diary – 2nd Scots Guards
25 September 1916
The day fixed for attack on LES BOEUFS. A very quiet morning. At 12.35 p.m. (Zero Hour) the Battalion advanced and a creeping barrage going 50 yards a minute commenced. The first objective – about 400 yards from our front line – was taken with few casualties and was weakly held. The enemy appeared to have gone to the right of their line and formed a very strong defence in BOW TRENCH which held up the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards on our left who suffered very heavy casualties. A platoon of ‘G’ Company which was next to the Grenadiers also had a lot of casualties.
At 1.35 p.m. the creeping barrage re-started and the Battalion advanced to the second objective 700 yards away. When within 100 yards of it, we were temporarily held up for about a minute by our own barrage and plastered by the German barrage. We went on and took the second and final objective (sunken road) suffering a good many casualties from shell fire. The road was not held, but directly we got into it we came under a very heavy barrage from the enemy and it was here that we had most of our casualties and whilst digging in.
Touch with the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards on our left was lost but we connected up in about an hour. One company of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards went through us and took the 3rd objective – the other 3 – which, I think had been held up by the German barrage – came through later. By this time the left flank was completely in the air, owing to the 21st Division having failed to gain their objective, but we were in touch with the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards on our right.
The whole of the operations as regards the Battalion were carried out very smoothly and with great success. Our barrage was excellent, and the wire in front of the first objective completely destroyed.
26 September 1916
During the night of 25 / 26th we consolidated our positions. During the day there was little shelling on either side. GEUDECOURT was taken at 7 a.m. by the Division on your left and so connected up with the left of the 3rd Guards Brigade.
At night the Brigade was relieved by the 2nd Guards Brigade and the Battalion bivouaced in TRONES WOOD. There were no casualties during the relief.
The casualties sustained in the Battalion were:-
- Officers – Killed: 2, Wounded: 1, Missing: Nil.
- Other Ranks – Killed: 40, Wounded: 199, Missing: 83
Family
George Wilson was born circa. 1892 at Loanhead, Mid-Lothian. The following family information is taken from the 1901 and 1911 Census, Register of Soldiers Effects and family headstone.
His family is shown as follows :-
- Father: George Wilson, born c.1857 at Banff, Banffshire – Crofter. Died 24 October 1936. (80)
- Mother: Mary Booth or Wilson, born c.1867 at Gabriel, Banffshire – Crofters Wife. Died 20 December 1958. (91)
- Sister: Jeannie Ann, born c.1895 at Banff, Banffshire. Died 7 May 1913. (18)
- Sister: Barbra, born c.1900 at Alvah, Banffshire.
Addresses
The following addresses have been ascertained for George Wilson :-
- 1901: West Deuchries (Farm), Alvah Banffshire.
- 1915: West Deuchries (Farm), Alvah Banffshire.
Medals
George Wilson was awarded, the Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War.
Memorials
George Wilson is honoured and remembered on the following memorials :-
He is also remembered in the book – Roll of Employees of the Corporation of Edinburgh.
Remarks
Photographs kindly donated by the family of George Wilson.
Links to Additional Information
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission: George Wilson.
- Find a Grave website: George Wilson.
- A Street Near You website: George Wilson.
- Lives of the First World War: George Wilson.
References
- 1901 Census.
- 1911 Census.
- Soldiers Died in the Great War (Ancestry).
- Register of Soldiers Effects (Ancestry).
- National War Memorial Index (Ancestry)
- Pension Cards.
- Medal Index Card.
- Medal Roll (Scots Guards).
- Roll of Employees of the Corporation of Edinburgh book.
Groups
Contributors:-
- Vincent Stuart.
- Family of George Wilson (Documents & Photographs)
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