WILSON, William Bell

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
RESIDENCE:                    Hensall – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            June 30, 1893
                                             Hay Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 10, 1918                  25 years     1 month
CEMETERY:                     Le Quesnel Communal Cemetery Extension – Le Quesnel –
                                             Somme – France
                                                  A     22
WIFE:                                 Mrs. Mary Wilson – Hensall 
PARENT:                            Mr. John Wilson – Hensall
SISTER:                              Miss Margaret Wilson - London
Occupation:                        Bank Clerk                           Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         Hensall – December 10, 1915 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 22 years     5 months

Lieutenant Wilson sailed from Halifax for England on November 1, 1916 and arrived in England on November 11, 1916.
On March 10, 1917 he qualified 1st in his class at a Bombing Course.
On February 23, 1918 he was struck off service of the 161st located at Witley Camp in Surrey and taken on strength by the 4th Reserve Battalion located at Bramshott - Hampshire.
On April 14, 1918 he was struck off service from the 4th Reserve Battalion and taken on service with the 47th Battalion which was in the field and spent some time in the reinforcement pool before joining his unit on June 1st, 1918.
On August 10th the Battalion strength was 782 men of all ranks. The winds were from the northwest and it was somewhat misty. They assembled behind the 44th Battalion in battle formation with “A & C” Companies as 
      right / left assault with “B & D” being in support. At 10:15 am they advanced and came upon heavy enemy fire   
      as they crossed the Avenues de Marnites. Further in the advance they met an old trench system heavily wired    
     and covered in long grass and here there was heavy enemy machine gun fire. When they were 1,000 yards west 
     of Fouquescourt the advance of the 44th was halted by enemy fire. “A” Company moved forward to assist against    
     the enemy fire.
They then attempted to circle the village and at this time tank support arrived from the 1st Tank Battalion. The 44th Battalion and “A” Company rushed the village and were able to penetrate to the open ground to the east of the village and here they set up a defensive line. At the same time “C” Company had a severe fight with the enemy positioned in machine gun nests and pits. They then leap frogged the 44th and advanced until they encountered heavy enemy enfilade fire from the right and here they were halted.
The light was fading now and the enemy was still fighting and holding out. Menelars Trech was then consolidated and held for the night.
During this advance 13 men were killed with Lieutenant Wilson being the only officer to fall and 86 men were wounded.