Harry Wilson was the only son of Thomas Harland and Lydia Ann (nee Rake) Wilson who married in the Malton area in the first quarter of 1875 and his birth was registered in the Malton area in the second quarter of 1886. Thomas, who was born in Malton Workhouse, seems to have survived his son but died in the last quarter of 1917.
In 1891 the Wilsons lived in Westgate, Old Malton, where they had been living for at least ten years while Thomas worked in a brewery, presumably in New Malton.
1891 Census – resident at Westgate, Old Malton
WILSON, Thomas H, Head, Married, M, 45, Brewers Labourer, Old Malton Yorkshire,
WILSON, Lydia A, Wife, Married, F, 46, , Marnhull Dorsetshire,
WILSON, Sarah J, Daughter, , F, 13, , Old Malton Yorkshire,
WILSON, Alice, Daughter, , F, 10, Scholar, Old Malton Yorkshire,
WILSON, Harry, Son, , M, 4, , Old Malton Yorkshire,
By 1901 they had moved to 13 Town Street living there with two working children, Sarah, in service and Harry, apprenticed as a joiner.
1901 Census – resident at 13 Town Street Old Malton
WILSON, Thomas H, Head, Married, M, 55, General Labourer, Malton Yorkshire,
WILSON, Lydia A, Wife, Married, F, 56, , Marnal Dorsetshire,
WILSON, Sarah J, Daughter, Single, F, 23, House Maid Domestic, Malton Yorkshire,
WILSON, Harry, Son, Single, M, 14, Joiner Apprentice, Malton Yorkshire,
They remained at the same address for the 1911 census and by now Harry had finished his apprenticeship and was working as a wheelwright.
1911 Census – resident at 13 Town Street Old Malton
WILSON, Thomas Hurland, Head, Married, M, 65, Brewers Labourer, Yorkshire Old Malton,
WILSON, Lydia Ann, Wife, Married 36 years, F, 66, Laundress, Dorsetshire Marnal,
WILSON, Harry, Son, Single, M, 24, Wheelwright, Yorkshire Old Malton,
WILSON, Doris, Niece, Single, F, 8, School, Yorkshire Norton,
Harry enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment and was sent out to Flanders with several others from Old Malton. The 5th Battalion suffered terrible losses on the first day of the Battle of Flers- Courcelette on 15th September with 32 officers and men killed on that day. Harry was hit in the lower back by shrapnel and sent back to hospital in Brighton where he died just over a month later. “Soldiers died in the Great War” records that he died of wounds while the Memorial Pages for the Yorkshire Regiment record that he died at home.
His funeral took place on Sunday 29th October 1916 according to the Malton Messenger.” Military funeral at Old Malton - The funeral took place at Old Malton on Sunday with full military honours, of Lance Corporal H. Wilson, Yorkshire Regiment, son of Mr T.H. Wilson and the late Mrs Wilson of Town Street, Old Malton. The deceased soldier was 29 years of age and had been a year and seven months in the fighting line when on September 15th he was wounded in the lower part of his back by shrapnel. He arrived in England on September 21st and was in the 2nd Eastern General Military Hospital, Brighton where he died on October 26th in the presence of Mr & Mrs J. W. Simpson, Mrs Sawdon (relatives) and Miss Benson who had been informed of his critical condition. Lance Corporal Wilson was a soldier and a gentleman. These are the terms in which all who knew him refer to him. He was a wheelwright and joiner and served his apprenticeship with Messrs Thackeray, at Old Malton. Subsequently he went into the employment of Capt. Behrens at Swinton Grange, at his own trade and left there to join the army. He was one of the first to be associated with the Old Malton Football Club, a member of the Cricket Club since its formation and a chorister at St Mary’s Church. The remains were brought from Brighton on Saturday, an as we have already stated the interment took place on Sunday in the presence of an exceptionally alrge gathering of people from Malton, Norton and Old Malton. The coffin as covered with the Union Jack and borne by fellow-workmen. Twenty-four men of the Labour Company, Lincolnshire Regiment were present under Corporal Williamson. The service in the church, which was full to the doors was taken by the Vicar and Rural dean (Rev. W. Ingham), who in the course of his remarks, paid a warm tribute to the deceased, whom he had known since he was ficve years of age. A chorister and member of the Church Bible Class, he had frequently been brought in contact with him and always found him a young man of high character, esteemed by all who knew him. He had nobly done his duty for his King and country and they in that parish all deeply mourned his death. As the remains were borne to the grave, Mr J. Barker played the Dead March in “Saul” and after the committal service at the graveside, the V.T.C. Buglers, in charge of Bugler-Sergt. Rollinson sounded the Las Post. The chief mourners were: The father, Miss Benson; Miss Doris Wilson (Niece); Mr & Mrs Sawdon (Brother-in-law & sister); Mr & Mrs J.W. Simpson, Norton (Brother-in-law & sister); Mr & Mrs T. Jewitt, Middlesbrough (Brother-in-law & sister); Mrs Wray, Brighouse (aunt); Mrs Banks, Brighouse (cousin); Mr & Mrs W. Oram, Mr & Mrs A. Denels, Mr& Mrs Brown, Miss Olive Brown Malton; Mr A. Brown, Thixendale; Mr Little, York; The British Oak Lodge of Oddfellows of which deceased was a member, was represented by Mr Harry brown (Lodge Secretary) and Mr W. Barker (District Secretary) and other members. Wreaths were sent by Miss Benson; deceased’s fellow-workmen at Swinton Grange; Miss Jewison, Scarborough; Mr & Mrs Sisley, Scarboro’; Mr J.L. Chapman, Old Malton; Miss Cockerill, Malton; Mr & Mrs Brown and Miss Olive Brown, Malton; Mrs Holmes, Malton; Miss Wallr, Malton; Mrs Cockerill, Malton; Mrs Tom Elmbrook, Malton; Mr and Mrs Sunley, Old Malton, Mr & Mrs Ellison, Old Malton, Mr & Mrs Bond, Old Malton; Mrs Walcrick, Old Malton; Mr & Mrs Frank Greenley, Old Malton; Mr & Mrs J. W. Nendick, Old Malton; Miss Florrie & Mr Joseph Nendick, Old Malton; Mr & Mrs Jackson, Old Malton; Mr & Mrs W. Cram, Norton; Mr & Mrs Oliver, Norton; Lance Cpl A. Johnson, Becket’s Bank Hospital, Leeds; Pte John Cram, Mr A. Brown, Thixendale; Mr & Mrs A. Depuis, Malton. Mr W. Turner, Old Malton was the undertaker”
He is buried in the cemetery at Old Malton, and commemorated on both the Old Malton memorials.
