Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

William James Wilson lived at 88 Crown St Liverpool He was born in 1888 and he was married on 27th December 1915. The marriage certificate describes him as a soldier. With help from your goodselves and the National Archive I have been able to trace the military service for his brother and cousins of the same address but of WJW I can find nothing at all; not even the smallest of nuggets. Can anyone please get me started? Was it customary to give occupation soldier in WW1 even though he was a merchants clerk when, I assume, he was conscripted?

I have an undated postcard which I think came from him and sent to his parents. It suggests he was at Tipperary Barracks in Ireland. The tone does not suggest we were at war and if this is true why might he be there. Could he have become a soldier well before the outbreak of hostilities?

Would welcome members thoughts .

Peter.

A few thoughts for you:
He would not necessarily have been conscripted to have been a soldier in 1915. I do not have the date to hand, but I suspect it may have been a little later when conscription was introduced.
The Army always had a presence in Ireland, when the whole island was part of the UK.
Do you have any more about him, such as post-war status?
Daggers

William James declared his occupation at the time of his marriage which is/was the correct procedure.

Daggers and Bert. Thanks for speedy replies. I find that conscription came in March 1916 so WJW must have enlisted. I think he dealt in timber for Paterson and Zochonis and it may be that he enlisted with his colleagues. From the little I know I suspect he returned to his old job on demob.

I said in my original note that I have absolutely nothing on his military history. As I reflect I see I have little on any aspect of his life so any help is much appreciated.

Peter.

A William James Wilson was born in Belfast on 2nd November 1888, making him 27 on 27th December 1915. His parents were Thomas Wilson, a sailor, and Mary Wilson, nee Martin.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 926717.pdf

Maybe there is no connection, but a lot of facts fit.

Luxor,

Info here,
https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/ ... =2&t=15812

Dear Luxor & Bert,

Thanks for continuing to search but the man from Belfast is not ours. WJW was the son of Thomas and Margaret Wilson. He was a house painter. WJW seems to be 'the invisible man'

At some time I understand that he worked for Paterson Zachonis (I have no idea where their offices were). I wonder if he enlisted with his workmates.

Peter.

1911, Liverpool Directory,

Bert - Thanks. I know Old Hall St. When I was a humble clerk I was allowed to go to OHSt for morning coffee break. Peter

William and Winifred are listed on the 1939 TNA Register, and gives their dates of birth.

Rose Lea, Pensby, Wirral, UD, Cheshire, Lancashire
William J Wilson dob 5/09/1888 Married occupation West African Merchant Produce Clerk
Winifred M Wilson dob 20 december 1888 Married occupation unpaid domestic duties.

https://search.findmypast.com.au/record ... 2f015%2f27

** this could be his father at 2 glenrose Terrace, Southport, CB.

Thomas Wilson, DOB 26 Jan. 1860, a Widow, Retired House painter.

https://search.findmypast.com.au/record ... 2f018%2f18

Thanks Sharene. More info (hopefully) is in your private mailbox. - Peter.

thanks pete,

Details of his birth for those who wish to help find information.

william James wilson, born 5/09/1888 Baptised 3/10/1888 St Cyprians, Edge Hill, parents Thomas Wilson and wife Margaret.
England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, FHL Film Number: 1546077

Sibling Sydney G Wilson, Businessman. Businessman, Located Yeppoon, Qld.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56013616


This is only a few hours from where I live. It is a known military district, and should be able to find more on this at my local gene library.

As to what happened in Ireland, why he was there.

Many young Englishmen with fighting experience of any kind, were recruited to go to Ireland to quell the Rioting, called the Easter Uprising. I think from memory around 1920.

I will hazzard a guess to say that this is certainly a possibility as to why he was in Ireland.
RLA Records on Proni might tell you more.

daggers wrote:A few thoughts for you:
He would not necessarily have been conscripted to have been a soldier in 1915. I do not have the date to hand, but I suspect it may have been a little later when conscription was introduced.
The Army always had a presence in Ireland, when the whole island was part of the UK.
Do you have any more about him, such as post-war status?
Daggers

As Daggers says here the British Army have always had camps in Ireland. Irishmen made up a large proportion of British Army recruits. British and Irish recruits could be stationed at camps in Britain, Ireland or abroad during peacetime or during times of conflict. The presence of the army did not necessarily mean they were involved in a conflict. Here is a link showing the regiments stationed at Tipperary Barracks:-

http://homepage.tinet.ie/~tipperaryfame/barracks.htm


Blue

this is also interesting

Further marriage of william j wilson.

William J Wilson
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1919
Registration district: West Derby
Inferred County: Lancashire
Spouse: Margaret Moss
Volume Number: 8b
Page Number: 1153

Dear Sharene and Blue,

I seem to have lost the draft post I was working on. Thank you both for your endeavours.

Blue - The only Merseyside Regiment stationed at the Barracks at the time appears to be the Lancashire Fusiliers. We had assumed that he would be Kings Liverpool like the rest of the family but the LFs were there well before WW1. The card I have is undated but to say 'Just arrived here for the concert' (indeed even to have a post card) seems hardly a war time activity. The other thing I establish from the link is that my postcard is the Officers Quarters. I do not think he was an officer so was he giving the concert; a bandsman perhaps. Will have to keep trying.

Peter