Private Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson was born in 1898 at Fulford, Yorkshire, the last of five children of gravel merchant and farmer Robert Wilson and his wife Mary. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Fulford with his parents and three of his siblings.
Wilson registered for military service on 22 January 1916. He gave his address as Pasture Farm, Fulford, and his occupation as horseman and farm hand. He was called-up on 17 April 1917 and six days later was posted to the 3rd Reserve Regiment of Cavalry at Aldershot. There he was issued regimental number 33794.
On 11 December 1917 Wilson embarked for France, where, a month later, he was posted to the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment was serving as corps cavalry to V Corps, but in February-March 1918 it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
On 29 August 1918, while serving with the regiment during the opening phase of the Advance to Victory offensive, Wilson was wounded in the back of the neck, left arm and right shoulder (right buttock according to another record). Initially treated at an Australian General Hospital in Rouen, on 2 September he was evacuated to the UK, where he was admitted to the 1st Scottish General Hospital in Aberdeen. He remained there until discharged on 20 November 1918.
On 10 February 1919 Wilson was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.