Wilson, G J
GEORGE JAMES WILSON
Remembered with honour Basra War Cemetery, Iraq: Plot III, Row J, Grave 17.
He enlisted 27 March 1915 for the Duration of the War (Short Service) and joined the R.A.S.C. at Grove Park: a motor driver aged 23, 6’1½” tall, next-of-kin his father of Watford. He served at Home 27 March 1915 to 26 November 1917, during which time he was appointed Acting Corporal 12 June 1916, appointed Acting Sergeant 15 February 1917, and reverted to Private 28 July 1917. He embarked at Devonport 27 November 1917 aboard S.S. Leicestershire en route to India; the next day he was appointed Acting Corporal (again). He disembarked in Bombay 16 January 1918 and immediately embarked aboard H.M.T. Ekina for Basra, arriving there 22 January 1918. He served with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force from then, being promoted to Corporal 12 April 1918 and appointed Acting Sergeant 18 December 1918. He died in the 40th British General Hospital, Basra, of diphtheria, and was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Son of Frederick William and Alice (nee DUMBLETON) WILSON.
His parents married 8 November 1883 at Christ Church, Chelsea, London. Alice died 25 February 1929 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 1 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Frederick died 8 June 1934 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 6 June, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
George was born 2 August 1891 in Watford, and baptised 2 September 1891 at St Mary’s, Watford.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 9 he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a motor driver aged 19, he was a boarder in Dunstable, Beds.
Service number
M2/055342Rank
Acting SerjeantRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
19/04/1919Age at death
27Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)