Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Wilson, a quarry worker, born 1858 in Huncote, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Jane Wilson (nee Lines, married on the 15th May 1882 in Croft Parish Church), a Griswold stocking frame knitter, born 1862 in Desford, Leicestershire. William Robert, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1884 in Sutton in the Elms, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 12th October 1884 in Broughton Astley Parish Church, he had one sibling, Arthur, a schoolboy, born in the 4th quarter of 1882 in Croft, Leicestershire and baptised on the 22nd April 1883 in Broughton Astley Parish Church, in April 1891 the family home was at New Row, Croft. In March 1901 William was employed a concrete works labourer and was residing at Cottage, Main Street, Croft, together with his father a stone quarry worker, his mother and his brother, Arthur a granite quarry worker, also residing in the family home was his cousin, Maud Lines, born 1883 in Bardon Hill, Leicestershire. In May 1901 William’s mother died aged 38, she was buried on the 21st May in Croft Parish Churchyard. In April 1911 William was employed as a stone quarry worker and was residing in the family home in Croft, together with his father, a stone quarry worker, his step mother Hephzibah Wilson (nee Read, married on the 4th September 1906 in Croft Parish Church), born 1874 in Flitwick, Bedfordshire and his half blood siblings, George Albert, born 10th July 1907, Lilian May Read, born 15th December1908 and Dorothy Alice, born 17th August 1910, the latter three half blood siblings were all born in Croft. William also had another half blood sibling, Ernest William, born 24th September 1915 in Croft.
William enlisted into the Regular Army on the 22nd November 1915 in Leicester, and was allocated the service number 25788. He gave his place of birth as Croft, Leicestershire and age as 31 years 68 days, and his trade or calling as quarryman.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 7½ inches in height, weighed 138 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 37½ inches, his physical development was described as good.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William’s surviving service record amounts to a total of eleven pages, and these are in very poor condition with much of the hand written information relating to his army service in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 19 Oct-16 - A stretcher bearer party of 20 men and 1 N.C.O. sent to front line by “D” Company to report to Lieutenant WEBB. Composite Company were returned to Battalion Headquarters by day and arrived in small parties during the afternoon. Relieved by the 2nd NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGIMENT, 2 Companies relieved the LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and 2 Companies relieved the 2nd SHERWOOD FORESTERS. Casualties, other ranks 26 wounded, 11 killed and 2 missing.