Remembrance - The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War Private John William WILSON. 2370 Close window to return to main page

Photos and biography are below.

Private John William WILSON,  2370.

5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John Henry and Kate Eliza Wilson (nee Birkett), of 18, St. John's Walk, Bridlington; husband of Ethel Wilson (nee Madden, later married Otto Kirby), of 32 Havelock Crescent, Bridlington. Killed 25 April 1915. Aged 32.
Born Bridlington, Enlisted Bridlington.
Commemorated Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

Photos and biographical details kindly provided by Mike Wilson, grandson of John William Wilson, from the book "The Great War Heroes of Bridlington".

Private John William Wilson, 2370.
Photograph courtesy of Mike Wilson (grandson), from the book "The Great War Heroes of Bridlington"

John was born in Bridlington on 11 October 1882, the son of John Henry and Kate Eliza Wilson (nee Birkett), who lived at 18 St John's Walk in Bridlington.
He was educated at the Priory Church National School.
John was married to Ethel Frances Wilson (nee Madden), who lived at 33 Westbourne Avenue in Bridlington. They had five children, the eldest being only nine years old when John was killed.

He had been a member of the Territorial Force and the Bridlington Rifles, before enlisting in Bridlington on 11 August 1914. John William Wilson was drafted out to France on 18 April 1915. He embarked from Folkestone on the military transport ship "Onward", arriving in Boulogne in the early hours of the 19 April 1915.

John William Wilson was killed in action on Sunday 25 April 1915 near St. Julien, near Ypres, in Belgium.
Although buried at St. Julien, he now has no known grave and his name is commemorated on Panel 33 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Before enlistment, John was a joiner.

Privates George Wilson and John William Wilson.
Photograph courtesy of Mike Wilson (grandson), from the book "The Great War Heroes of Bridlington"

The above photo shows John William Wilson with his brother George.
George Wilson was wounded and returned to Bridlington.
It is thought that the photo was taken when the brothers were home for the funeral of their father, "Goosey" Wilson, on 7 April 1915.

-----------------> Return to top of the page