Source: April 1916 KIA
Family Search: When Private Charles J. W. Wilson was born on 2 February 1888, in Thorold, Welland, Ontario, Canada, his father, Thomas Wilson, was 23 and his mother, Sarah Jane Margaret Channell, was 22. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 27, his occupation is listed as rodman. He died on 2 April 1916, in Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium, at the age of 28, and was buried in Voormezele, Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium.
This soldier enlisted with the 36th Battalion at Hamiton, Ontario on April 17, 1915. Transported overseas to England he served there until transferred to the 18th Battalion on November 21, 195. He arrived in the field on November 24, 1915. He served with the Battalion until killed in action on April 2, 1916. It is noted in his service record he was “Blown to pieces by an H.E. shell.”
The Late Private Wilson
Some time before the death of Private Charley Wilson at the front, his sister, Mrs. Harry Adams, received the above postcard of her brother and two friends, on the reverse side of which was the following note:
“Dear Allie—This picture is of two of my friends and myself. It was taken in England. It is not very good. You can take it as a real token, for I am sending it right from the first line of trenches, where the Germans are quite plentiful.”
After the news of his death came, his mother received the following sympathetic letter from, Sergt. Chatten, and it is handed to The Post for publication. It shows the true spirit of comradeship, and that the rough life of the trenches does not remove from the rugged natures of the soldier boys all the finer feelings. Mrs. Wilson has had the picture of her son beautifully enlarged and it occupies a proud position in the Queen-street home. Following is the letter:
“Somewhere in Belgium, April 3rd, 1916.
“Dear Mrs. Wilson—By the time you receive these few lines you will likely have been informed of your son’s death. I don’t wish to bring back to you any undue suffering. I feel a queer sensation in my heart and a lump in my throat as I try to write you these painful lines. But I feel it my duty to tell you that Private Wilson died as only a man can die for his country. I was quite near him at the time of his death, and everything possible was done for his comfort. He passed away peacefully, without murmuring a word.
“We buried him yesterday in a little cemetery behind the firing line, where a little wooden cross will be erected to mark the resting-place of one of the best, and a hero. Revenge will be sweet when it comes our turn to face the enemy again in a hand-to-hand battle.
“As a mother’s son who is doing his bit out here, I’m writing these few lines to try to comfort you in this hour of bereavement. I hope someone will be kind enough to write a line to my mother when it comes my turn.
“Any further information that I can forward, I will gladly do so.
“Very sincerely, Clement Chatten (Sgt.)
“D. Co. 18th Batallion, 4th Inf. Brigade, B.E.F., London, Eng.”
Thorold Post. 23 May 1916.
09 Jul 1910, Sat ·Page 1. Article about his father’s drowning.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 