Since 2005 I have been researching my Family Tree and like many others have wondered if I would find some famous ancestors or relatives who have done something extraordinary.

 

I live in Penrith, Cumbria and can trace my ancestors back to the 1600's most of whom are  from the Matterdale and Borrowdale area between Penrith and Keswick in the old County of Cumberland, now called Cumbria.

 

My research has not been easy, but was helped significantly by my another relative who has done his own family tree research for the last 30-40 years, before the Internet, and also by me using the 'Family Tree Maker' software, and the Internet to search online databases containing Births, Marriages, Deaths, Census, Military records, Passenger lists etc. I have also had to search numerous local cemeteries to find elusive headstones showing dates of birth and other details forgotten over time.

 

I am very proud to have recently discovered the extraordinary story of my 1st Cousin (Twice removed) John Bennett WILSON, which is shown below so that his memory and bravery may never be forgotten:

 

 

 

 

 

John Bennett WILSON MC DCM MM (1892-1952)

 

              

 

·      John Bennett WILSON was born in Cockermouth, Cumberland in 1892 before moving to Hull as a bank manager before the outbreak of WW1. He served in the 13^th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.

 

·    The East Yorkshire Regiment was notable for the many ‘Pals’ battalions raised by the Regiment.  The 13^th (Service) Battalion (4^th Hull) was part of Kitchener’s New Army and was formed in Hull by Lord Nunburnholme and the East Riding Territorial Force Association on 3 November 1914.  The 10^th (Service) Battalion (1^st Hull) was commonly known as the Hull Commercials; the 11^th (Service) Battalion (2^nd Hull) was the Hull Tradesman’s; the 12^th (Service) Battalion (3^rd Hull) was the Hull Sportsmen’s; and the 13^th (Service) Battalion (4^th Hull) was commonly known as ‘T’Others’!  There were 3 Regular battalions, of which the 3^rd (Reserve) Battalion was at Beverley in August 1914 and remained in the UK throughout the war.

 

1916 Postcard – note caption then view actual photo below

 

 

Men of the 10th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, returning from the Somme trenches. © Imperial War Museum

 

 

Regimental badge of the East Yorkshire Regiment

 

 

Regimental Colours of the East Yorkshire Regiment

 

 

 

John Bennett WILSON MC DCM MM (1892-1952)

 

 

·     Following action involving a trench raid on German Lines at Ferme du Bois, Somme, France on 7/8 September 1916, 297 Sergeant (Acting Company Sergeant Major) J.B. Wilson 13^th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      9^th October 1916.  John’s Father, Joseph Wilson of Cockermouth, Cumberland wrote to Mr & Mrs Ward in Hull (presumed to be the parents of Ivy Ward, subsequently married to John):

 

    Thank you for Congratulations, we feel very proud and also very thankful that he is still safe.

 

We were very pleased to hear from you and to know that you too have come to no harm.  You have been in my mind when the Zepps [zeppelins] have been over.  We have not yet heard what John’s Cross is for.  I sent you a Carlisle Journal with John’s photo in on Friday.  I also sent one to the Bank but I did not write to the Bank as you say in your letter possibly someone may have written from this district.  Yes I got your paper on Friday thanks.

 

I must again thank you for the many little acts of kindness you have shown to my son.  We appreciate them very much I can assure you.  My second son is also in France now so you can see it is an anxious time for us indeed everybody feels the strain I think.

 

I don’t know if John told you that he was slightly wounded on the 8^th of Sept he was hit in the hand by a splinter from a bomb but was little worse.  His name appeared in the list of wounded in the Yorkshire Post he was never in Hospital.  The East Yorks have done a lot of hard work and I often notice as I run my eye over the Casualty lists that Hull has suffered heavy losses.

 

Let us hope that a wise providence will watch over all our brave men and bring us a speedy victory.

 

We will always be pleased to have a line from you and to know that you are well.  I will now close with kindest regards.

 

Your sincere Friend

 

Joseph Wilson

 

 

The Battle of the Ancre 13^th November 1916

 

Allied aerial oblique photo of German stronghold and defences around Serre 1916

 

 

·      Acting Company Sergeant Major (A/CSM) John Bennett Wilson DCM took part in the major British Army assault on Serre on 13^th November 1916. This was the first day of the Battle of the Ancre, part of the Battles of the Somme.

 

 

• The assault on Serre itself was to be conducted by two Brigades of the British 3^rd Division, with 92 Brigade of the 31^st Division consisting of the 12^th & 13^th East Yorkshire Regiment and the 2^nd Suffolk Regiment providing flank cover to the left of this attack i.e. North of Serre.

 

• Facing them in a massive trench system was the Imperial German Army in the form of their 52^nd Division and the 66^th (Magdeburg) and 169^th (8^th Baden) Infantry Regiments. The 169^th Infantry regiment was regarded by the Germans as one of the finest infantry units they had.

 

• Serre itself was likened to a fortress, on high ground with significant troop positions, machine guns, barbed wire and other defences. The weather had been atrocious and the trenches and shell craters were all full of water and no-mans-land was a sea of thick mud making movement over it very difficult.

 

 

 

 

·      The attack began at 0545hrs on 13^th November 1916 with the 12^th & 13^th  Battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment (EYR) following up behind an artillery barrage, which was landing in the front line German trenches. There was thick fog and the German first and second line trenches were taken, followed by the third line too.

 

·     However, the 3^rd Division attack on Serre failed due to a massive German counter-attack and the 2^nd Suffolk Regiment had gotten into difficulties owing to the state of the ground and machine gun fire, all their officers were killed, they fell back and the right flank of the EYR was completely exposed to German counter attacks.

 

·     Meanwhile A/CSM John Bennett Wilson DCM with D Company (HQ) had succeeded in reaching the German 3^rd line.  Here, with the men they could collect, they established a strong point by consolidating two shell craters.

 

·     After the Germans had retaken their 2^nd and 1^st lines, the party consisting of Captain Woolley OC D Company, acting CSM JB Wilson, and 8 men of the 13^th East Yorkshire Regiment found itself completely surrounded by the enemy. For seven hours all German counter attacks were successfully beaten off by the small group.

 

·     The Germans then resorted to dirty tricks when they suddenly marched some captured Suffolk Regiment troops in front of them. Captain Woolley later reported “I got round to see and found thirty or more Suffolk men prisoners (unarmed) coming straight over us – I caught one to try and get out of him some information, but Huns followed behind these fellows and were beginning to shoot them down because we were there armed, either these fellows, prisoners had to be murdered or we had to give in. While considering for a second what to do the Huns had us” 

 

• Captain Woolley, A/CSM John Bennett Wilson and the others were taken prisoner.

 

 

 

·      The Military Cross was awarded only to officers and Warrant Officers.  As Sergeant, acting Company Sergeant Major, John Bennett Wilson would be an acting Warrant Officer.  John’s award followed the action North of Serre on 13^th November 1916, the day he was taken prisoner. The Citation, in the London Gazette on 11 May 1917, read:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         25 December 1916.  John’s Father wrote to Mr & Mrs Ward:

 

I have good news for you this morning.  We have had two post cards from John he is a prisoner of war and says he is not wounded.  I can’t explain to you how thankful we are that God has spared his life.  He is not able to give an address yet as he is at a clearing station at the time he wrote.  We got two cards by the same post one was written on the 18^th Nov and the other on the 23^rd Nov.  He says he is well treated, much better than he expected.  He was taken prisoner on the 13^th Nov and says that he held out until further resistance was impossible.

 

I shall give you his address as soon as I get it.  I am not writing to the Bank but if you happen to see any of the staff you might please tell them.  I do not know that I can say more at present we hope to hear from John again soon when we hope to be able to give you John’s address.

 

Kindest wishes to you all and a very happy New Year.

 

From your sincere Friend,

 

J Wilson

 

 

 

 

·         On 2 January 1917 John’s Father received a telegram from Amiens:

 

Happy New Year escaped arrived British lines December 31^st  Wilson 

 

 

 

That same day John’s Father wrote to Mr & Mrs Ward:

 

We have had startling news this morning.  A telegram from John saying that he has escaped and is back in the British lines again. 

I am writing at once as I know how pleased you will be to know.

 

We now hope that he will get leave to come home after such a terrible experience and we are looking for a letter in a day or two, when he will most likely look you up.

 

We were all sorry to hear of the death of your Mother and I take this opportunity to convey to you our sincere sympathy in your great bereavement, and may brighter days lie in store for all of us.

 

Few people have escaped trouble in the terrible times thro’ which we are passing.

 

May it please God to give us peace in the near future.  I do not think I can say more at present and will close with kindest regards from us all.

 

I remain yours sincerely, J Wilson

 

 

·         On 19 January 1917 John Wilson was at his Father’s home in Cockermouth and wrote to his brother, Joseph (also serving in the Army):

 

Dear Joe

 

Just a few lines and a little bit of ‘bacca’

 

I suppose you would get a letter from me a day or two ago so you will be expecting this parcel.

 

I am having a nice quiet time at home, and so far I have not been away at all.

 

I have a good few places to visit and I am going up to Troutbeck for a few days.

 

I suppose you will want to know all particulars of my escape.  Well I will tell you a few things but don’t shout them about too much.

 

I was taken prisoner on Nov 13^th in front of Serre (left of Beaumont-Hamel) and was taken to Cambrai, which is about 30 kilos behind Bapaume.

 

I was kept there in the Citadel until Dec 20^th, when I was moved to a place called Honnecourt which is about 24 kilos east of Combles on the side of a canal there running practically north & south.  I was supposed to be in charge of a working party of 100 men of various regiments, and was confined in an enclosure of barbed wire.  Inside this enclosure were two huts each supposed to accommodate 50 men.

 

About 6.30 (German time by the way) on the night of Dec 29^th I managed to escape through the wire and made my way across country towards the line.  I reached the German front line just at dawn and was unable to travel any further on account of the approach of daylight.  I managed to find a shell hole about 15 yds in rear of the front line and laid there from 7am Dec 30 until 1am Dec 31^st.  Meanwhile the shell hole filled with water and after dark it started to freeze a little.  I was obliged to wait until 1am on account of the moon which was very bright.  At the right moment I managed to steal through the German trench and arrived in our own front line shortly afterwards.

 

The part of the line where I came in was held by the Irish Guards who made me very welcome.

 

They informed me that I was at Sailly-Sallisel.  I was taken to various corps, army, & general HQ and finally came home for a month’s leave.

 

The journey was fairly exciting & from the time I tricked the sentries at Honnecourt until I arrived in our own lines I passed through five occupied trenches and two unoccupied.

I was a bit tired and cold but otherwise I was no worse and I am glad to say I never felt better in my life.  Enclosed you will find a small French note to get a few things with.

 

I hope you manage to get leave while I am here if it is not too much to hope for.

 

All well at home.  Hope you are the same.  Must close now as it is post-time.  Let me know if you want owt [sic].  John

 

·       More details of John Wilson’s captivity and escape were published as Annexes to Corps Intelligence Summaries Nos. 138 & 139. 

 

He had been captured by the German 169^th Regt (8^th Baden), 52^nd Division and taken first to Bn HQ situated between Serre and Puisieux, thence via Achiet-le-Petit and Achiet-le-Grand to Bde HQ at Gomiecourt.  At Gomiecourt the slightly wounded received attention in the Church, which was used as a dressing station, and coffee was issued.  The prisoners (30) then proceeded to Raillencourt on the 13^th November (ie. the day of capture) by motor wagon, where they underwent their first interrogation and were then marched to Cambrai.  They were billeted altogether in an adjoining building on the west side of the Citadel and afterwards in the Citadel itself.  They were detained in Cambrai until about 20^th December when they were sent to Honnecourt. 

 

Whilst at Cambrai CSM Wilson, and another Sgt-Maj, had attempted to escape.  After successfully evading the sentries, they were both discovered hiding behind a field kitchen; the guard was subsequently increased and extra barbed wire put up.  CSM Wilson’s successful escape was made from Honnecourt on the night of 29^th December at 6.30pm German time.  After exchanging his blankets for those used by a German, so that all trace should be lost, he passed through a gap in the entanglements, escaping the notice of the sentry.  This gave him a clear 13 hours’ start, unless the Germans made, as they sometimes did, a late roll call. 

 

He had previously taken his bearings (by sun, wind & stars &c), and from a hill which he reached, he made sure of them by the glare over the front line.  Before reaching the British lines he passed over 5 German lines and was nearly detected on one or two occasions, particularly in the third line where the sentry apparently suspected something and took the trouble to go into a dug-out to fetch another man up to search the trench.  Meantime Wilson was over the parapet lying low.  It was about 7am German time when he arrived at the 2^nd  line where they were “standing to” and on reaching the German front line just as dawn was breaking, he looked for cover and spent the day in a fresh shell crater.  The “stand to” in the front trench was about 11.30pm German time.  After the moon had gone down he reconnoitred the trench about 15 yards to his right and 15 yards to his left, and finding no sentries, he crossed and had no difficulty in reaching British lines over No Man’s Land.

 

As it was dark it was very difficult to form any impression of the country he passed through, but it appears that he passed between the villages of Villers-Guislain and Epehy and cleared Fins on the north side.  He thought there was a railhead at some distance past this place where he crossed the narrow gauge railway, which would be in the neighbourhood of Equancourt or Fins.  After this, he remembered passing close to the woods, probably Bois de Vaux and St Pierre Vaast.

 

The famous Rudyard Kipling wrote in his ‘1916 – Salient and the Somme’ from the ‘Irish Guards in the Great War Volume 2’ an extract below that mentions CSM JB Wilson’s escape

 

“Another escaped prisoner, C.S.M. J. B. Wilson of the 13th East Yorks, managed to get into our lines that night. He had been captured at Serre on the 13th November, and had got away from a prisoners’ camp at Honnecourt only the night before. He covered sixteen kilometres in the darkness, steered towards the permanent glare over the front, reached the German line at dawn, lay up in a shell-hole all through the day and, finally, wormed across to us by marking down an N.C.O. of ours who was firing some lights, and crawling straight on to him. Seeing his condition when he arrived, the achievement bears out the Diary’s tantalisingly inadequate comment: “In private life he was a bank accountant, and seemed to be very intelligent as well as a man of the greatest determination. We fed him and warmed him before sending him on to Haie Wood whence an ambulance took him to Brigade H.Q.”

The map below shows the typical complexity of the German trench system (in red) on the front line at Gommecourt, North of Serre in 1916.

 

 

 

CSM JB Wilson’s escape from the Prisoner of War (POW) camp at Honnecourt involved him travelling across Country for 16km behind enemy lines, crossing a railway, then without detection crossing 7 German trench lines (all but 2 found by him to be full of enemy troops), negotiating numerous barbed wire obstacles, lying up in a freezing water filled shell hole for 17 hours only 15 yards away from a German position, then crossing No-Mans-Land (without being shot or shelled by either side), then finally safely crossing into the British 1^st trench line and being welcomed back by the Irish Guards. A truly superb escape feat.

 

 

Sailly-Saillisel, where CSM J.B. Wilson crossed No-Mans-Land and was welcomed by the Irish Guards is shown on the map below, at the most North-Easterly point of the Somme battlefield. It is at the border of the British and French lines. The railway line that CSM Wilson also had to cross is depicted too.

 

 

 

·      In a letter dated 16^th March 1917, John Wilson wrote to his Aunt Agnes (the wife of his Father’s brother Bill, at Troutbeck, Cumberland

 

Dear Aunt Agnes

 

I am writing as I promised I would to let you know what was happening to me.

 

After I left Ghyll Head I went to Hull to have a look round.  Almost as soon as I returned home I was called back to Hull and was there publicly presented with the DCM.  I returned home and next day I was called up to the War Office to render an account of my adventures.  While I was there I was informed that I would not be required to serve abroad again, but should I volunteer again for Active Service I would be informed by the War Office where I should go, but in any case I would not be allowed to return to France.

 

I have been transferred to the 3^rd E Yorks and at present we are stationed at Withernsea which is on the east coast about 20 miles north of the Humber.

 

I know the place quite well as I was managing a sub-branch of the Bank here when I enlisted.

 

I am at present Musketry Instructor and although it is a nice easy job I am getting fed up with things and I am thinking of taking a commission and volunteering for Active Service again.  I fancy Bagdad [sic] rather.

 

Things have been going very well lately and I think Old Fritz must be pretty jumpy.

 

Joe seems to be going on all right.  I had a card from him this morning.

 

I had a nice time when I was up in London.  I expect to go up there again before long to be invested with the Military Cross by the King.  I just got to know about five weeks ago [ie Jan/Feb 1917] that I had been awarded it.

 

Today is a fine warm spring day, quite a change from the rough wintry weather we have had during the past three weeks, and the lambs are enjoying the sunshine.  Things are a bit more forward here than they are about Troutbeck.

 

How did Uncle Billy go on about his attestation?

 

We are relieving all experienced plowmen [sic] here, and they are being sent to an agricultural company about 20 miles away to do farm work.

 

They didn’t want a Sergeant Major to the company or it would have been a good job for me.

 

Prices are still climbing.

 

The submarine business is rather serious but I think we will master it, and I think that the fighting ought to finish this year.

 

Did you get that little E York brooch I gave to the children?  I am sorry it was such a common thing, but we cannot get any others of our regiment.

 

I think I must close now as it is nearly post-time.

 

I hope you are all well at Ghyll Head.  Kind regards to Uncle Billy and yourself, and all the youngsters.

 

John

 

PS My address is:           CSM JB Wilson

          3^rd E York R

          Withernsea

          E Yorks

 

Let me have a letter sometime.

 

 

 

 

·       No citation is available for the award of the Military Medal, but the award was published by the War Office on 30 January 1920 and the London Gazette entry read:

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Bennett Wilson died on 9 February 1952.  His obituary read:

 

MR. J. B. WILSON – The funeral took place on Tuesday of Mr John Bennett Wilson, of “Lynwood”, Grangefield Avenue, Burley.  Mr Wilson, who was 59, formerly lived at Northallerton where he was manager of the Midland Bank.  He came to live at Burley shortly after his retirement in February, 1948, and since then had made many friends in the village.  Mr Wilson had a distinguished service in the 1914-18 war. 

He enlisted in the 13^th East Yorkshire Regiment and quickly reached the rank of Company Sergeant-Major.  Between September and December, 1916, he gained three decorations.  He was awarded the DCM for distinguished service in the field and later the MM for bravery.  On the day he was taken prisoner he was awarded the MC.  He escaped from the prison camp and arrived back in the British lines. 

Shortly afterwards he took a commission and was posted to Ireland, transferring to the 3^rd East Yorkshire Regiment.  He was a keen nature lover, his favourite hobbies being fishing, shooting and bird watching.  He leaves a widow.  A service at Lawnswood [on the outskirts of Leeds], conducted by the Vicar of Burley, the Rev EN Pedley, was followed by cremation.  Among the many mourners were five members of the East Yorkshire Regiment who represented the Battalion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Bennett WILSON MC DCM MM (1892-1952)