Wigson, Joseph
Sapper
No. 24936, 102nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
Died of disease on Thursday 20 February 1919 (aged 25)
Buried:
Dueville Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy (Plot 1. Row E. Grave 12)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ulsterville Presbyterian Church
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
Brother of Corporal Samuel George Wigson (No. 3339)
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Wigston.
Joseph Wigson was born on 10 April 1893 in Clandeboye Cottages, Bangor and he was a son of Joseph and Martha Wigson (nee Elliott) who were married on 26 March 1888 in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church. Joseph Wigson from Ballymullan was a son of John Wigson, a labourer. Martha Elliott from Conlig was a daughter of Robert Elliott, a tradesman.
The Wigson family lived in Clandeboye Cottages, Bangor; in Church Street, Newtownards; at 15 Ferndale Street, Belfast; at 24 Moore’s Place, Belfast and in Napier Street, Belfast.
Joseph Wigson Senior worked as a general labourer and he and Martha had six children:
Jane Annabella (born 31 March 1889 in Crawfordsburn)
John (born 12 February 1891 in Church Street, Bangor; died of convulsions 5 October 1891 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Joseph (born 10 April 1893 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Robert James (born 27 April 1895 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Samuel George (born 17 December 1897 in Castle Square, Bangor)
Thomas Lorimer (born 27 June 1899 in Clandeboye Cottages; died of congenital debility 2 August 1899 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Jane Wigson was 17 when her son Charles was born on 19 January 1907 in Newtownards Workhouse.
Joseph and Martha’s five eldest children were baptised in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church and Thomas was baptised in Bangor Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Comgall’s).
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War, Joseph Wigson worked as a house painter. He served with 102nd Field Company of the Royal Engineers and died of disease in Italy on 20 February 1919.
Sapper Joseph Wigson (No. 24936) was buried in Dueville Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
THOUGH PARTED BY THE HAND OF GOD
IN CHRIST UNITED STILL
MOTHER
Sapper Joseph Wigson (No. 24936) is commemorated in Ulsterville Presbyterian Church and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 660).