Wilson, John
Rifleman
No. 13879, 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of wounds on Thursday 13 July 1916 (aged 36)
Buried:
Manchester Southern Cemetery, Lancashire, England (Grave Q. 349 Screen Wall)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that John Wilson (No. 13879) was born in Holywood.
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website it is recorded that he was 36 when he died in 1916 and he was a son of John and Margaret Wilson.
John Wilson was born around 1879/1880, he enlisted in Belfast and served with the 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Rifleman John Wilson died on 13 July 1916 in Manchester Military Hospital, Lancashire, England and he was buried in Manchester Southern Cemetery.
On 6 October 1917 John’s brother, Rifleman Robert Wilson, ‘A’ Company, 17th Reserve Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who was stationed in the Military Barracks in Dundalk, made his mark on a hand-written statement that he was a witness at the time his brother had made a will. Robert stated that John had left everything to his niece, Maggie Divine who had subsequently married and was now Maggie Millar.
Maggie Divine (sometimes Devine) and Joseph Alexander Millar were married on 2 October 1916 in Belmont Presbyterian Church Belfast. Maggie Devine from 29 Lucan Street, Belfast was a daughter of Adam James Devine, a shoemaker. Joseph Alexander Millar, a carter from 1 Oakdale Street, Belfast was a son of Joseph Millar, a carter.
Maggie’s parents, Adam James Devine (aged 21) and Annie Wilson (aged 19), were married on 21 July 1890 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church Belfast. Adam James Devine was a son of James Devine, a traveller. Annie Wilson of 7 Walnut Street, Belfast was a daughter of John Wilson, a gardener.