WILSON, William Francis
| Service Number: | 30953 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 September 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | Medium Trench Mortar Batteries |
| Born: | Canning, London, England, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Camperdown, Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Nephritis, post Influenza & Broncho Pneumonia, Section 5 War Hospital, Exeter, Devon, England , 3 October 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Exeter Higher Cemetery, Devon, England Grave 96., Exeter Higher Cemetery, Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 30953, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Nov 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 30953, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 3 Oct 1918: | Involvement Gunner, 30953, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 30953 awm_unit: 5 Division Australian Heavy Trench Mortar Battery awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1918-10-03 |
Help us honour William Francis Wilson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
Probable birth record
Births Dec 1896 Wilson William Frank W. Ham 4a 167
Deaths Dec 1918 Wilson William F 21 Exeter 5b 154
He was 21 and the son of James Lloyd and Harriet Wilson of Canning Town, London.
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
William Francis Wilson was born at Canning, London, Essex around 1896 to parents James Lloyd Wilson & Harriet Kate Wilson (nee Parker). His birth was registered as William Frank Wilson in the December quarter, 1896 in the district of West Ham, Essex.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 4th September, 1916 as a 20 year old, single, Labourer from 29 Mallett Street, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW.
Gunner William Francis Wilson, Service number 1619, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Suevic (A29) on 11th November, 1916 with the Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, 4th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 30th January, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 30th January, 1917 Gunner Wilson was marched in to Australian Details at Perham Downs, Wiltshire from Australia.
His regimental number was changed to 30953 on 13th February, 1917.
Gunner Wilson proceeded Overseas to France from Camps 6 & 7, Perham Downs via Folkestone on 15th March, 1917. He was marched in the A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 16th March, 1917.
On 23rd March, 1917 Gunner Wilson was transferred to 5th Division Artillery. He was taken on strength with 5th Divisional Trench Mortar Brigade from 4th Reinforcements on 27th March, 1917.
He was posted to V. 5. A. Battery in France on 15th April, 1917.
Gunner Wilson was sent to 1st Anzac Trench Mortar School on 2nd May, 1917 & rejoined his Unit on 16th May, 1917.
On 15th October, 1917 Gunner Wilson was marched out to 2nd Army Trench Mortar School & rejoined his Unit on 29th October, 1917.
He was detached to 13th Field Artillery Brigade on 10th November, 1917 & attached for duty. He ceased to be attached on 23rd November, 1917 & rejoined his Unit from detachment to 5th D.A.C. on 4th December, 1917.
Gunner Wilson was sent to Trench Mortar School on 6th January, 1918 & rejoined his Unit on 20th January, 1918.
On 28th January, 1918 Gunner Wilson was posted to 9th Battery.
He was on leave to UK from 7th March, 1918.
Gunner William Francis Wilson was taken to 14th Field Ambulance on 28th April, 1918 with Gastritis. He was transferred to 20th Casualty Clearing Station then to Ambulance Train on 29th April, 1918. Gunner Wilson was admitted to 24th General Hospital at Etaples on 30th April, 1918. He was transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot on 3rd May, 1918 & transferred to A. Convalescent Depot on 8th May, 1918. Gunner Wilson was admitted to No. 1 Australian Convalescent Depot at Havre on 9th May, 1918. He was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Havre on 8th June, 1918 & marched out to his Unit on 12th June, 1918.
On 12th June, 1918 Gunner Wilson was transferred to Australian Corps Heavy Trench Mortar Battery.
He was sent to 4th Australian Field Ambulance on 2nd July, 1918 & was transferred to 47th Casualty Clearing Station with Haemorrhoids the same day. Gunner Wilson was transferred to Ambulance Train 25 on 3rd July, 1918 & admitted to 55th General Hospital at Boulogne on 4th July, 1918. He was transferred & admitted to 7th Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 5th July, 1918 & transferred to No. 1 Convalescent Depot on 6th July, 1918. Gunner Wilson was transferred to 74th General Hospital at Trouville on 9th July, 1918 & admitted on 10th July, 1918. Gunner Wilson was transferred to Australian Convalescent Depot at Havre on 19th August, 1918. He was transferred to 2nd General Hospital on 20th August, 1918. Gunner Wilson was transferred to England on 30th August, 1918.
On 31st August, 1918 Gunner Wilson was admitted to Exeter War Hospital with Piles for an operation. He developed influenza which prevented the operation taking place. According to the Hospital report Gunner Wilson had previously been gassed and suffered from trench nephritis. Acute nephritis supervened as a complication of the influenza. Gunner Wilson then developed Broncho pneumonia.
Gunner William Francis Wilson died at 9 pm on 3rd October, 1918 in Section 5 War Hospital, Exeter, Devon, England from Nephritis, post Influenza & Broncho Pneumonia.
He was buried in Exeter Higher Cemetery, Devon, England – Plot number 96 and has a simple granite marker headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/higher-cemetery.html
Click images to start slideshow.