Wilson, William
Rifleman
No. 545, ‘D’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 43)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A and 15 B)
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Rifleman William Wilson (No. 545) was born in Moira, lived in Maralin and enlisted in Banbridge.
Rifleman William Wilson (No. 545) served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and initially he was reported as missing in action after the first day of the Battle of the Somme. In November 1916 it was officially confirmed that he must be presumed to have been killed in action on 1 July 1916.
The following report was published in the 25 November 1916 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle:
BALLYMACASHEN
Rifleman W. Wilson (No. 543), R. I. Rifles, previously reported missing, now reported killed.
There is only one townland in Northern Ireland named Ballymacashen; it is located near Killinchy, and so falls within the Ards North Down area.
Research has confirmed that this newspaper report is incorrect on two counts:
- Rifleman William Wilson’s number is incorrectly given as 543; Albert Wilson (No. 543) served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was taken prisoner of war (Red Cross records) and was subsequently repatriated.
- Rifleman William Wilson (No. 545), 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles was not from the townland of Ballymacashen, Killinchy, but from the townland of Ballymakeonan, Maralin.
The casualty, William Wilson was born on 26 May 1873 in the townland of Kilminiogue, Moira, and he was a son of Samuel Wilson (a weaver) and Elizabeth Wilson (nee Clarke) who were married on 14 November 1860 in Lurgan Registrar’s Office.
In civilian life, William Wilson worked as a cambric weaver and he and Elizabeth Waddell were married on 7 March 1900 in Moira Presbyterian Church.
William and Elizabeth Wilson (nee Waddell) had at least five children:
William (born 27 July 1900 at Ballymakeonan while his father was serving as a Private in the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in the South African War; in 1901 baby William Wilson was living with his maternal grandparents, John and Sarah Waddell who farmed in Ballymakeonan)
Mary Elizabeth (born 1 June 1904 at Legmore)
Samuel John (born 25 February 1907 at Ballymakeonan)
Anne (Annie, born 27 March 1910 at Ballymakeonan)
Charles Alexander (born 19 November 1912 at Ballymakeonan)