Constance Maude Fuller - William Wilson

18 Aug 2023
Wife: Constance Maude Fuller
Born: 22 Aug 1895 in Grantchester, Cambridgeshire 1,2 (see note 1)
Census: 1911 in Cambridge (see note 2)
Occupation: 1911 Servant at Newnham College
Resided: 1939 in Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridgeshire 2
Died: 1975 in Cambridge 3 (see note 3)
Father:
Mother:
Other spouse 2
Husband: William Wilson
Married: 27 Jan 1917 in Grantchester, Cambridgeshire 4,1 (see note 4)
Born: 1891 in Trumpington
Christened: 22 Nov 1891 in Trumpington (see note 5)
Census: 1901 at 7 Whitelocks Yard, Trumpington (see note 6)
Census: 1911 in Whitelocks Yard, Trumpington (see note 7)
Occupation: 1911 Ag Lab
Member: Trumpington Free Church 5
Military: 1914 - 1918 6
Died: 21 Sep 1918 in France (see note 8)
Father: Joseph Wilson (1863 - 1948)
Mother: Elizabeth Emma Poulter (1859 - 1937)
Media link: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4822357
Media desc: Lives of the First World War

Sources:
(1) FreeBMD website.
(2) 1939 Register.
(3) Index on ancestry.co.uk.
(4) Ken Fletcher pers.com.
(5) Trumpington Free Church war memorial.
(6) Roll of Honour, in Trumpington Village Hall.

Event Notes
Note (1) Dec 1895 Chesterton 3b 447
Note (2) Age 15, born Grantchester, Servant at Newnham College
Note (3) Jun 1975 Cambridge 9 0676 born 22 Aug 1895
Note (4) Mar 1917 Chesterton 3b 703
Note (5) Nov 22 WILSON William of Joseph & Emma otp shepherd
Note (6) Age 9, born Trumpington, with family
Note (7) Age 19, born Trumpington, with family. Farm Labourer
Note (8) WILSON, W

Rank: Private
Service No: 204534
Date of Death: 21/09/1918
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 5th/6th Bn.
Grave Reference II. C. 9.
Cemetery MEATH CEMETERY, VILLERS-GUISLAIN

Additional Information:

On leaving school, William took a job with a family in Chaucer Road,
gardening and driving the pony and trap. When war was declared, William
immediately enlisted in the Cambridgeshire Regiment but was later transferred to
the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1916 whilst serving in France he was badly
wounded in the hip. He was brought home to spend time in hospital at Cheltenham.
While on sick leave, he married Constance Fuller of Poplar End, Grantchester, on
27 January 1916. At the time of her marriage, Constance was in service at
Byron’s Lodge; after the wedding the two moved into Lodge Cottage at the
entrance to Manor Lodge. William’s hip had been so badly shattered, leaving him
with one leg shorter than the other, that they were certain he would be able to
leave the army. However, he was called back to France. On 21 September 1918, the
5/6th Scottish Rifles were attacking an enemy post at Villers-Guislain near
Cambrai. In the attack, 14 men including William were killed.

and

The service career of William Wilson has been researched by Caroline Burkitt
who examined the names on the Grantchester War Memorial where William is also
commemorated.
.
He enlisted with the Cambridgeshire Regiment with the service No 2596 but was
later transferred to the Cameronians. In 1916 he was serving in France and was
badly wounded in the hip. He was brought home to hospital in Cheltenham, and
whilst on sick leave, on 27th January 1917, he married Constance, daughter of
Robert and Cecilia Fuller of Poplar End Grantchester. At the time of her
marriage Comstance was in service at Byrons Lodge working for Mr & Mrs Marsh.
After the wedding William and Constance moved into Lodge Cottage at the entrance
to Manor Lodge.
Williams hip had been so badly shattered, leaving him with one leg shorter
than the other, that his family were sure he would be able to leave the army,
but he was called back again to France.
On 21st September 1918 the 5/6th Scottish Rifles attacked an enemy
strongpoint called "Meath Post" one mile south of the village of
Villers-Guislain, after two battalions had failed to capture it. The post was
taken, but 14 men died in the attack. One of them being William, 132 men were
wounded. Nine days later the Germans abandoned the position.

Name Index