Remembered
On This Day, 21 November 1917

George Wilson was killed in action on this day in 1917

George Wilson
George Wilson

George Wilson was born on 12 September 1894 in Steeton in Yorkshire.

His parents were Richard Parker Wilson, a farmer, and his wife Elizabeth née Petty. He had five older siblings - Joseph Walter, Thomas Gilbert, Joshua, Albert and Mary Jane. His parents had another child, Bertha, who died age 1. In 1911, his brother Albert died, age 10.

Before the war, he worked on his father's dairy farm, Bank House in Steeton.

George enlisted into the West Riding Territorials in Skipton in January 1915 and was sent overseas to join the 62nd Division on the Western Front in February 1917.

After taking part in the Battles of Arras and the Hindenburg Line, in November 1917, the battalion took part in the Battle of Cambrai.

Bourlon Wood In November 1917 (E17 E18 E19 In Green; E12 E11 E6 In Blue)
Bourlon Wood in November 1917 (E17-E18-E19 in green; E12-E11-E6 in blue)

The war diary states that their first objective was the German trench system in (map references) E17-E18-E19 "and to push on if the attack was successful and take the trench running west of Bourlon in E12-E11-E6. The attack however was held up". Later that day, they were relieved and returned to the support lines. George was posted as missing that day and declared dead as from 21 November 1917,  nearly a year later, in September 1918.

Having no known grave, George is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral.

Cambrai Memorial To The Missing
Cambrai Memorial to the Missing
George Wilson's Pension Record Card
George Wilson's Pension Record Card

266366 Pte George Wilson, 2/6th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regt

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