Main CPGW Record
Surname: WILSON
Forename(s): Robert
Place of Birth: Hale, Westmorland
Service No: 143532
Rank: A/2nd Corporal
Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Engineers
Battalion / Unit: 12th Field Coy
Division: 6th Division
Age: 30
Date of Death: 1918-04-21
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: J. 27.
CWGC Cemetery: RAMPARTS CEMETERY, LILLE GATE
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: BURTON-IN-LONSDALE, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Robert was the son of William Walker and Jane Wilson, née Lancaster. William was born at Leasgill and Jane at Storth, Westmorland.
1891 Hale, Westmorland Census: Robert Wilson, aged 3 years, born Hale, son of William and Jane Wilson.
1901 Ireby, Lancashire Census: Ireby Hall - Robert Wilson, aged 13 years, born Beetham, Westmorland. [Robert and his brother, Thomas, were employed by William H. Herd, Farmer.]
1911 Burton-in-Lonsdale, Yorkshire Census: High Street - Robert Wilson, aged 23 years, born Beetham, Westmorland, son of Jane Wilson, widow.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: A/2/Cpl Robert Wilson, 143532, R.E.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: A/2/Cpl Robert Wilson, 143532, Royal Engineers.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: A/2nd Cpl Robert Wilson, 143532, 12th F. Coy. R.E. Date and Place of Death: 21.4.18. In Action. Belgium. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother - Jane. £27 6s. 5d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Robert.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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A/2nd Corporal Robert WILSON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Engineers
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 6th Division
View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Ramparts Cemetery, Lille Gate
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium
Ramparts Cemetery, Lille Gate
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium
Ramparts Cemetery, Lille Gate
CWGC Headstone - personal inscription
Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
10 December 1915
BURTON-IN-LONSDALE – Recruits
On Thursday week, Robert Wilson–the well-known local wrestler, Bull Farm, John N. Kirkbride, Low Street, and William Dodgson, Beech House, joined the Royal Engineers and proceeded to Chatham for training. All three are old boys of Thornton’s Schools, and bring up the roll of honour to 50.–On Monday John and Richard Kidd left the village for Preston, where they joined the Army Veterinary Corps.
02 June 1916
BURTON IN LONSDALE
War items – Sergt. Wm. H. Horner, Leeds Pals, and Pte. Norman Bateson, R.A.M.C., have both sufficiently recovered from their wounds to be removed from France to hospitals in England this week. John Atkinson has gone forward in his group and joined the R.G.A. on Tuesday. During this week a number of local soldiers have been home on furlough, including Pte. Thos. Atkinson, Grenadier Guards; Lance-Corpl. Kenyon Bateson, 5th Manchesters; Lance-Corpl. R. Wilson, and Sappers J. Kirkbride and W. Dodgson, Royal Engineers; Pte. Carr Kettlewell, Duke of Wellington’s; Trooper Edward Wilson, Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry and Pte. George Whitfield, R.A.M.C. The healthy appearance of all is a gratifying feature of these visits.
10 May 1918
Corporal R. Wilson, Burton-in-Lonsdale
Corporal Robert Wilson, R.E., son of Mrs. Wm. W. Wilson, Bull Farm, Burton-in-Lonsdale, was killed in action in France on April 21st. Corporal Wilson, who joined the Army in 1915, was well known as a wrestler, his numerous prizes including three championship belts – the 10½ stone at Dallam Tower, 1909, 10 Stone at Dallam Tower, 1910, and the 10 stone at Endmoor in 1911. He was 30 years of age and unmarried.
17 May 1918
BURTON-IN-LONSDALE – Memorial Service
A large congregation, including V.T.C. and special constables, attended All Saints’ Church on Sunday afternoon, when a memorial service was held in memory of Corporal Robert Wilson, R.E., killed in action in France on April 21st. The bier, draped with the Union Jack and against which were deposited two beautiful wreaths, was placed in the chancel. The vicar paid tribute to the sterling character of the deceased soldier. Miss N. J. Wrathall, organist, played the Dead March. A collection for the local War Memorial Fund realised £1 10s.
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Robert Wilson was the brother of my great grandmother, Mary Wilson 1883-1965.
I have discovered Robert while researching my family tree.
I looked at The CWGC website and found the records for The Ramparts Cemetery where he is buried and it listed 5 men ( including Robert ) all killed on 21st April 1918 and buried alongside each other in plots J25 to J29. 4 of these deceased men were with The Royal Engineers.
I then searched the war diaries for this time and found a record which was entered on 22nd April 1918 by a Lt Col. of Royal Engineers, 6th Division which reads ’12th Co, 5 men killed and 4 wounded by a bomb in Ypres’. I believe this refers to the death of Robert WILSON.
The information supplied here is fascinating, I had no idea he was a well known local wrestler!! And to see his photo, it has made my day so thank you.