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Regiment: Royal Welch Fus.
Died: 06 April 1918 aged 26 in France. Killed in action at Aveling Wood.
Cemetery: Pozieres Memorial P 36/37
Son of H. I. Wilson (O.M.), 139 Bishop's Mansions, S.W. b. 1892.
Lower Shell—Mathematical VI. Minor Scholar. House Prefect.
Ontario Agricultural College.
Great War, Lieutenant Royal Welch Fusiliers.
'His career at school in a general way, and more particularly the energy and determination he showed in endeavouring to reach the aim he had set before himself, gave certain indications of what might be expected of him when he arrived at the age of manhood. And the record of his work as an officer marks the fulfilment of these expectations. He made Mathematics his special study, and it was intended that he should go to Cambridge; but, owing to a change of plans, he went to Canada and joined Guelph College, Ontario. After he had finished his course there, he was appointed to do work under the Canadian Government, and he was engaged on this when the war broke out.
The action for which the Military Cross was awarded to him is spoken of, in the official announcement, as follows: "Thanks to his dauntless courage, splendid leadership, and perseverance, a position captured by another battalion was successfully consolidated by the company under his command, despite intense machine-gun and rifle fire. His contempt of danger, splendid personal example, and devotion to duty inspired his men with the greatest confidence and enabled them to fulfil their task under the most trying and adverse conditions."
The Major-General of the division in which his regiment was, speaks of him as a keen and courageous officer, and his Major says that he was leading his men in a counter-attack on April 6th, when he was killed by machine-gun fire. During the whole night before the attack he was very cool and collected, thinking only about his dispositions for the attack and the best he could do for his men. "I need hardly say he was absolutely fearless, and he seemed to have no other thought than to ‘put up a good show,' which he did. No leading could have been finer, and the troops responded admirably to his leadership."' (Malvernian, Jun 1918).