South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


A/Sergeant Major 856 Leonard WILSON - 242nd South Midland Brigade, Royal Field Artillery


Killed in Action on Friday 16th June 1916 aged 21


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Hebuterne Military Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
1 April 1915 in France ~ Bickenhill, St. Peters
    Marston Green, St. Leonards
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Marston Green, Garden of Remembrance
Local actions prior to Battle of the Somme 16 Mar 1911 at Birmingham  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials  
Sailly 3rd Warwick Battery, RFA ~
  35th Brigade, RFA  

Service Record

  • 16 Mar 1911 - Enlisted in 3rd Warwick Battery, Royal Field Artillery Territorials aged 17
  • 6 Aug 1911 - Annual training at Brampton
  • 4 Aug 1912 - Annual training to Pembrey
  • 3 Aug 1913 - Annual training at Salisbury
  • 10 Jun 1914 - Promoted to Corporal
  • 27 Jan 1915 - Promoted to Sergeant & re-engaged for 4 years
  • 9 Mar 1916 - Appointed Acting Battery Sergeant Major

Circumstances of Death

Leonard, who was part of C Battery, was killed in action on 16th June 1916 when a shell burst in one of his C Battery Gun Pits. The 242nd Brigade war diary entry for the 16th June 1916 is transcribed below.

Sailly - 16th - 1.17am to 2am: Prearranged bombardment in support of Infantry raid, details attached. Enemy retaliation slight but one shell burst in No C/242 Gun Pit causing 7 casualties.

No 2337 Gnr T.F. Eccleston awarded the Military Medal [Gazette]. He first entered the burning gun pit and started putting the fire out.

C/242 Casualties - Killed 6, Died of Wounds 1.

Killed in Action:

  • 856 Sergt Wilson, L
  • 1150 Bmdr Prince, E.W
  • 1517 Gnr Hughes, W.W.W
  • 2745 Gnr Rouse, W
  • 2384 Gnr Davis, G
  • 2079 Gnr Holloway, T

Died of Wounds; 1180 Gnr Daly, V



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1894 in York  
   
Parents Names Abode
Fred and Harriet Wilson  Chelmsley Road, Marston Green 
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1894 - Clifton, York 1901 - School age
1901 - Marston Green Cottage Homes 1911 - Clerk at Watson & Ball Paper Merchants
1911 - Marston Green, Bickenhill 1914 - Clerk at Watson & Ball Paper Merchants
1915 - Chelmsley Road, Marston Green   
   
  •  Leonards parents were foster parents at the Marston Green Cottage Homes but he is not included on their Memorial Plaque