LONGSLEDDALE
WAR MEMORIAL
World
War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled & Copyright © Danielle Wilson 2015
The
Longsleddale memorial takes the form of a sandstone sundial placed
by the parishioners of Saint MAry Church, in which grounds it stands;
the east face has had the additional inscription for World War 2
added. Three names for World War 1 and no names for World War 2.
The sundial on top was added in 1951.
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Photographs
Copyright © Danielle Wilson 2015
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IN
GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT
WAR 1914 - 1918
| CRAGG |
George
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Lance
Corporal, 11th Battalion Border Regiment. Died aged 21 years on
the 26th June 1916. Service Number 16450. Son of Mrs Isabella Cragg
of 15 Serpentine Terrace, Kendal, Westmorland. Grave Ref: F 5 Authuile
Military Cemetery. |
| GILPIN |
Robert
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Private,
8th Battalion Border Regiment. Died aged 21 years on the 22nd November
1915. Service number 14443. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Thexton
Gilpin of 19 Shaw’s, Kendal, Westmorland. Born at Bonningate,
Crook, Kendal. Grave Ref: II C 9 Lancashire Cottage Cemetery |
| WILSON |
Roger |
 Private
184104, 31st Battalion (Alberta Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary
Force. Died, aged 21 years, on the 9th April 1917 at the Battle
of Vimy Ridge. Son of William and Alice Wilson of Netherhouse,
Longsleddale, Nr Kendal Westmorland. Buried in Ecoivres Military
Cemetery, Mont St Eloi, Pas de Calais, France. Plot V. Row F.
Grave 13.
Private
Roger ‘Reggie’ Wilson 184104.
Born: 6th April 1896 at Ravenslodge, Lyth Valley, Westmorland,
England.
Christened: 3rd May 1896 at Levens Church.
Description
(1915): Fresh complexion, Blue Eyes, Fair hair.
5 “8 tall, 179 lbs in weight, he was Church of England.
Distinguishing Marks: Missing the first finger off his left hand.
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Son of William and Alice Wilson of Nether House, Longsleddale
(Nr. Kendal) Westmorland (now Cumbria).
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Brother of Thomas and Helena Alice Wilson.
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He moved to De Winton, a small hamlet south of Calgary in the
province Alberta, Canada. He sailed on the ship the Empress
of Ireland arriving in Halifax on the 1st March 1914 with the
intention to farm in the country.
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He farmed in Canada until 11th December 1915 when at the age
of 19 yrs and 8 months he attested to the 89th Battalion C.E.F
on the news that friends back home were joining up.
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After basic training he sailed to England along with his fellow
troops on the HMT Olympic, Titanic’s sister ship, on the
2nd June 1916. Once arriving in England on the 8th June he was
transferred to the Shorncliffe training camp in Kent.
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He was admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital on 24th July
1916 with Roscola (Measles). He was discharged from hospital
on 11th August 1916 and from letters it can be deduced he went
home on leave for a number of days around this point of time.
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He was drafted into the 31st Battalion on the 27th August 1916
and by the 28th landed in Le Havre, France. On the 17th September
he arrived in the field and by the 19th joined his unit.
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From one letter dated 4th November 1916 he speaks of just coming
out of the trenches after a 6 day stint which was reasonably
‘easy’. This was in the Souchez trenches in the
Vimy Sector.
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On the 13th January 1917 he was admitted by the 5th Canadian
Field Ambulance to be treated for Bronchitis and Laryngitis,
he was then moved to the 4th General hospital in Camiers (8/2/1917)
and then finally transferred to the Hospital at Etaples (13/2/1917).
He was back in the field on the 23rd February 1917 and arrived
with his unit on the 10th March 1917. He was again admitted
to hospital by the 5th Canadian field ambulance on the 12th
March for Mumps and transferred to the 12th Stationary Hospital.
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He was discharged on the 29th March 1917 and was killed on the
9th April 1917, Easter Monday, at approximately 9.20 am when
he and his Lewis gun crew crossed no mans land under heavy artillery
fire and took a direct hit from a shell. Roger was killed outright
according to his Platoon commander and two other men were wounded.
The gun was ‘smashed’.
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He is buried in plot V. F. 13 in Ecoivres Military Cemetery,
Mont-St Eloi, France after dying just 3 days after his 21st
Birthday. He also was both born and died on Easter Monday.
21st April 1917-Westmorland Gazette
LONGSLEDDALE
KILLED IN ACTION
WILSON, Pte Roger, Canadians, eldest son of Mr Wm. Wilson
of Nether House, was killed in action in France on April 9th.
His platoon commander writes: During our attack on the 9th about
9.20 am, Roger was advancing with his gun crew under very heavy
shell fire. A shell made a direct hit on the gun and crew, killing
Roger outright, wounding two others and smashing the gun. Your
boy suffered no pain whatever. He was a splendid type of young
soldier, always cheerful and attentive to his duties and a favourite
with all his comrades. Pte. Wilson was 21 years of age.
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ALSO
THOSE
WHO FELL
IN THE
SECOND
GREAT WAR
1939-1945 |
Last
updated:
23 April, 2018
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