| Regimental number | 2802 |
| Place of birth | Durham, England |
| School | Newcastle Modern School, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England |
| Other training | Medical student |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 28 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Farm labourer |
| Address | The Orchard, Exeter, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 33 |
| Height | 5' 8" |
| Weight | 141 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs E McG Wilson, Lyon House, Tynemouth, Cumberland, England |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 17th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/34/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 55th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 34 |
| Place of burial | Anzac Cemetery (Plot I, Row E, Grave No. 4), Sailly-La-Lys, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 161 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Allotted to, and proceeded to 55th Bn from 5th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 16 February 1916; taken on strength of 55th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Promoted Lance Corporal, 10 July 1916. Posted missing, 20 July 1916. Now, 28 July 1916, reported as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Buried Sailly-sur-la-lys Cemetery by Reverend W. Meredith Holliday, no date stated. Statement, Red Cross File No 2980508, 2893 Pte W. COLEY, 55th Bn, 1 November 1916: 'He was a L/C. His body was brought in and buried at Sailly in the same cemetery as Capt. Gibbon.' Second statement, 598 Sergeant J.D. HARVEY, 55th Bn (patient, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England), 28 September 1916: 'Informant states that on the night of 29th July in an attack or raid on Lille he helped to carry Wilson's body off the battlefield and helped to bury him. Wilson as buried in the Australian Cemetery at Sailly. Informant got Wilson's pocket book and gave it to officer of the company who sent it to Wilson's people ... Informant did not actually see Wilson killed.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, WILSON David
Red Cross file 2980508 |
Postal Address:
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Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
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Campbell, ACT 2600
