War Diary 9th to 11th August 1917
Malakof Farm, Brielen - 9 Aug 1917: August 9th.—Fine. Working parties pushing trucks of stores for filling up the forward dumps. The Scouts did another field-sketch, which was a marked improvement on the last. I went with Colonel Boyle to visit the 7th Dorsets, who will be our right flank battalion in the attack on the 13th. Look pretty stout follows. They were practising the attack. We had a conference.
Our camp was shelled at various times during the day, but there were no casualties. The working parties had two men slightly wounded. Heard from the Transport officer that his lines at Saragossa Farm (where the pack ponies are) were shelled. The K.R.R.C. have had some animals killed every night.
General Blackader commands the Division. General Matheson having gone sick.
Malakof Farm, Brielen - 10 Aug 1917: Fine, but windy. Two R.B. officers, who will act as moppers-up, came to see us this morning; we had a conference, and afterwards a pow-wow for discussing aeroplane photos, of which I have quite a collection. The moppers-up will be B Company, 12th R.B., with 2nd Lieut. England in command of two platoons with our A and B Companies, and two with C and D.
Three officers of the Dorsets turned up in the afternoon, and we did some liaison work. In the evening the C.O. and self went to Brigade H.Q. Working parties as yesterday. We are getting a lot of them these days. We hear that the 59th Brigade will try to clear the Steenbeek tomorrow at dawn. Hope they succeed, as we want elbow-room for forming up before the attack. It might make all the difference.
Major-General Douglas Smith has taken over the Division from Major-General Blackadder.
Malakof Farm, Brielen - 11 Aug 1917: Fine morning; cloudy; some rain in evening. C Comany, while on working party last night, had 2 men killed, 6 wounded, one man shell-shock, 1 man missing - rotten luck. S.O.S. (false alarm) at 7.15am
In the evening went with the C.O. to see the K.S.L.I., and did some useful liaison work. Nothing has been left undone with regard to this attack to make the liaison as complete as possible. The liaison N.C.O.'s have all made each other's acquaintance by visiting their respective camps.
Stratford Herald Obituary
PRIVATE W. WILSON - Stratford Herald, Friday 7th September 1917
An official notification has been received by Mr. and Mrs. George Wilson of Shottery of the death of Private William Wilson, their third son at the early age of 22. Private Wilson joined the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry in May 1916 and three months later went to France. In October he sustained severe wounds in the shoulder and legs and upon recovery was transferred to the labour company of his regiment.
The Officer in Command in the company writes "It is with the greatest regret that I have to inform you that your son was killed on August 10th. The whole company was engaged as a working party and we lost four men from a shell which burst nearby. Your son was in high esteem with all whom he came in contact and his cheerfulness and devotion to duty commanded my admiration and respect."
Private Wilson was previously reported missing on August 14th. The Reverend H. B. Hargraves CF wrote that it was just possible that he was wounded and got to a dressing station belonging to another division. Hope was expressed that he might be reported to his regiment.
