David WILSON

Regimental number2802
Place of birthDurham, England
SchoolNewcastle Modern School, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Other trainingMedical student
Age on arrival in Australia28
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarm labourer
AddressThe Orchard, Exeter, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation33
Height5' 8"
Weight141 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs E McG Wilson, Lyon House, Tynemouth, Cumberland, England
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date27 July 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 2 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll55th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records34
Place of burialAnzac 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
SourcesNAA: B2455, WILSON David
Red Cross file 2980508