Lives of the First World War

known September 1918

The service career of William Wilson has been researched by Caroline Burkitt, of Grantchester, who examined the names on the Grantchester War Memorial where William is also commemorated. .................................................................................................................. He enlisted with the Cambridgeshire Regiment with the Service No. 2596 but was later transferred to the Cameronians. In 1916 he was serving in France and was badly wounded in the hip. He was brought home to hospital in Cheltenham, and, whilst on sick leave, on 27th January 1917, he married Constance, daughter of Robert and Cecilia Fuller of Poplar End Grantchester. At the time of her marriage Constance was in service at Byrons Lodge working for Mr & Mrs Marsh. After the wedding William and Constance moved into Lodge Cottage at the entrance to Manor Lodge. William's hip had been so badly shattered, leaving him with one leg shorter than the other, that his family were sure he would be able to leave the army, but he was called back again to France. On 21st September 1918 the 5/6th Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) attacked an enemy strongpoint called "Meath Post" one mile south of the village of Villers-Guislain, after two battalions had failed to capture it. The post was taken, but 14 men died in the attack: one of them being William. 132 men were wounded. Nine days later the Germans abandoned the position.

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