Sergeant Louis Arthur Wilson

Louis Arthur Wilson was born on 6th October 1879 to parents John who worked as a printer/compositor and Harriet nee Knight. He was baptised the following month on 30th November at St. Bartholomew in Grays Inn Road. The family were living at 119 Grays Inn Road and sharing the property with three other families. Sometime between 1881 and 1886 Louis’s mother Harriet died.

Records show that Louis’s father John remarried in the summer of 1886, his new wife was Miriam Parsons and the marriage was registered in Brighton. Louis would have been about 7 years of age.

The census records of 1891 show the family living at 5 Northwood Road Hornsey.

On 12th July 1898 Louis aged 18 married Constance Gladys Allen. Their first child Louis Arthur john was born 11th October 1899 and baptised on 28th March 1900. Louis (Snr) was working as a Clerk and the family were living at 142 Lillington Street, Battersea, where they were sharing the house and outside toilet with six other families. Later that year on 22nd December 1900 a second son was born to the couple and named Stanley Guy. Both these children were enrolled at Millbank School in Westminster on 3rd October 1904.

A third child was born on 6th November 1905 and named Denis Alan. Denis was Baptised 6th Dec 1905 at Holy Trinity, Vauxhall Bridge Road. At this time the family were now living at 33 Banbough Place.

By 1911 Louis was working as a Commercial Clerk at a Departmental store. He and his wife Constance were living in 3 rooms at 10 Fontarabia Road, sharing the property with one other family. They had been married for 12 years and had three children now aged 11, 10 and 5.

Conscription came into force in March 1916 for all men aged 18-41. Louis Arthur was called up for service 19th September 1916 and enlisted with the Royal Fusiliers as a Private and given the service number of 168617 he was aged 37 and 11 months. His occupation was listed as a Commercial Clerk.

His service records show he spent his first year of service in this country then was sent to France for four months where his rank was listed as a Gunner. By November 1917 he had returned from France and working as a Clerk for the Military. At the end of the War it appears that he stayed working for the Military and was appointed Sergeant on the 31st May 1919 with the Royal Garrison Artillery Clerks Section.

Louis was admitted to Queen Marys Military Hospital Whalley in Lancs 15th May 1920 seriously ill. He became progressively weaker and died on 25 June 1920 due to Cholecystitis (Inflammation of the Gall bladder) and Asthenia (breathing difficulties.) Louis was aged 40 and his death was attributed to Military service. At the time of his death Louis had served for 4 years.

He was originally going to be buried in the Military Cemetery in Whalley, but his widow Constance insisted on his body being brought back to London. He was buried in Morden Cemetery – Garth Road on 2nd July 1920. Louis’s widow received his last pay of £27, 8 Shillings and 3 pennies.

The family were still residing at Fontarabia Road in July 1921. Louis was awarded the British War and Victory Medals which were granted in respect of his service with the Royal Garrison Artillery.