Oct 4, 1891

Born in Kingston, Ontario

Nov 27, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 60081 (temporary number 1111)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mr. Robert Wilson, father, 28 Cowdy St., Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “E” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

He served using Edward as his given name and that is what I have chosen to use here.

Edward’s brothers, Earl number 60080 and his adopted brother William Collard number 59183, also joined the battalion

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Dec 22, 1915

Private Wilson dislocated his right shoulder.  He was first treated by the battalion’s Medial Officer then transported to hospital in Bailleul, France.  He was then transferred to hospital in Boulogne for treatment.

Dec 26, 1915

Invalided to England

Admitted to the VAD (Volunteer Aid Detachment) Hospital in Herne Bay

Posted to the 39^th Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital

Jan 20, 1916

Transferred to the Monks Horton Canadian Convalescent Hospital

Jan 21, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital care and joined the 39^th Battalion in West Sandling

Apr 23, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 24, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a group of 853 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Apr 25, 1916

While cleaning his rifle, Private Wilson dislocated his shoulder again while using the pull through on the barrel of his rifle.

Apr 26, 1916

Admitted to No. 2 Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Havre with complications from his dislocated shoulder

An enquiry held at the hospital discovered that this was the 14^th time that Private Wilson had dislocated his shoulder in the past 3 years

May 4, 1916

Discharged from hospital and returned to the base depot in Havre

May 6, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Wilson rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in the “B” Camp near La Clytte, Belgium

Sep 15, 1916

The 21^st Battalion was assigned the objective of capturing the strongly defended German Headquarters in the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France for their part in the battle of the Somme.  During the fierce fighting, Private Edward Robert Wilson was killed and buried in a nearby field, east of Pozieres. 

Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Robert Wilson, 305 Montreal Street, Kingston, Ontario

 
There is no indication in his file that a Memorial Cross was issued

 
Edward Robert Wilson is honoured on the Memorial Wall in Kingston, Ontario