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James Wilson
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1896 |
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Place of birth: Buckhaven, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Buckhaven, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Coal miner / Collier |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private Signaller |
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Service number: 16679 |
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Enlistment date: 23/12/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), 13th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 01/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Frost House, Frezenberg, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: IX Row: E Grave: 11 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
James Wilson was born around 1896 in Buckhaven, Fife. He was the son of William and Kate Wilson. Before the war he was still living in Buckhaven, Fife, and worked as a coal miner. He enlisted in the British Army and served with the 13th Battalion Royal Scots (45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division).
James was killed on 1 August 1917. The day before, on 31 July, the Battle of Passendale had begun. The objective of the 15th (Scottish) Division was to capture the Frezenberg ridge and subsequently Hill 35, a slope northeast of Frezenberg. During the attack, the 45th Brigade served as reserve for the 44th and 46th Brigades. The Germans did not remain idle and launched a counterattack.
In response to the German counterattack, the 13th Battalion was sent in the afternoon of 31 July towards Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35, with the aim of consolidating the captured ground. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not take place. The following day, the Germans launched another counterattack there, and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were severe: 368 men were killed, wounded, or went missing. The 21-year-old James Wilson was one of them. After the war, his body was found near Frost House. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
James was killed on 1 August 1917. The day before, on 31 July, the Battle of Passendale had begun. The objective of the 15th (Scottish) Division was to capture the Frezenberg ridge and subsequently Hill 35, a slope northeast of Frezenberg. During the attack, the 45th Brigade served as reserve for the 44th and 46th Brigades. The Germans did not remain idle and launched a counterattack.
In response to the German counterattack, the 13th Battalion was sent in the afternoon of 31 July towards Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35, with the aim of consolidating the captured ground. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not take place. The following day, the Germans launched another counterattack there, and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were severe: 368 men were killed, wounded, or went missing. The 21-year-old James Wilson was one of them. After the war, his body was found near Frost House. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 5
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1901 Scotland Census (National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh (NRS), Reels 1-446). https://www.gov.uk/general-register-office Sources used |
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45th Infantry Brigade (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/1946/4). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 28. Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers' Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) WO363). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
More information 4
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=34735dde-1bbe-4819-be24-bf3e6a1dbe08 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4811347 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/465217 |
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A Street Near You https://astreetnearyou.org/person/465217/ |