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[Guest Gerry W]

I am researching any information/photos regarding my great uncle Private George Wilson 201025 of the 1st/4th Bn,. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.)

He died aged 42 on the 9th April 1918 and is buried in the Communal Cemetry at Beuvry.

I am led to believe that this was during the Great German Offensive of 1918.

I would also like to try and find any information that the army has ie. signing up documentation (enlistment papers).

Thanks Gerry W

[steve fuller]

Hi Gerry & welcome to the forum

Do you have his cwgc entry? (cwgc.org if not familiar with it)

Name: WILSON, GEORGE

Initials: G

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.)

Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.

Age: 42

Date of Death: 09/04/1918

Service No: 201025

Additional information: Son of John and Ellen Wilson, of Wigan.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. C. 24.

Cemetery: BEUVRY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Sdgw is not something I have, but one of the Pals will oblige no doubt!

Look at the PRO on line and identify his Medal Index card (MIC) for further info on him.

Will have a look ...

[steve fuller]

(Sorry if you already know all this BTW!)

... here he is. Click the link to get straight to it (hopefully!!). Cost £3.50 to download & will give you more detail and help show you what uit to look at if you want to learn about what he went through.

http://www.documentsonline.nationalarchive...1&resultcount=1

Description Medal card of Wilson, George

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Lancaster Regiment 3532 Private

Royal Lancaster Regiment 201025 (Incomplete) Private

Date 1914-1920

Catalogue reference WO 372/22

Dept Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies

Series War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War

His 4 digit number will probably lead to him being a Pre War Regular Soldier or a Territorial/ in a TF Battalion. From memory the 6 digit number denotes he was likely to still be in the same unit in March 1917 that he started the war in (this was when any surviving '4 digit numbered' soldiers were changed to 6, to bring them in line administratively speaking).

If you havent looked already, the mother site has a good write up on the Kaiserschlacht / Operation Michael:

http://www.1914-1918.net/bat22.htm

and many Pals can probably add more detail about the Battalions actions before & during the battle? Im a Beds Regmnt person myself so cant help with the KORL Battalion, sorry. Ill have a look at the book I have tonight but itll be late before I get home so may be tomorrow. (Wont mention him by name unless he won a VC or similar, but it can help with background if you like?)

Cheers & good luck

Steve