Edmund Robinson Wilson

thank you to paley downs for information and photos

His last New Zealand address was Devonshire House, Masterton, which was an accommodation house of twenty rooms in Victoria Street, Masterton, run by Mrs John Tait, wife of a building contractor in Masterton.  On enlistment, he gave his next of kin as his sister, Jennie (or Jane) Susan Wilson (1879-1963).  She never married, and lived in the family home in Wallace Street until her death.

Before the war, he was a member of the 9th Regiment (Wellington East Coast Rifles) 2nd Battalion, and in 1912 he was made a 2nd Lieutenant.  He enlisted in the Wellington Infantry Battalion, 17th (Ruahine) Company, with the rank of Lieutenant, on 17 August 1914, and embarked for overseas service on 16 October 1914, on either the “Arawa” or the “Limerick”.  The Battalion arrived in Egypt on 3 December 1914 and in 1915 went on to Gallipoli, and Edmund was killed in action at Walker’s Ridge, on 27 April 1915.  Lieutenant Colonel Malone wrote in his diary:

“I went on a little scout by myself, on our left. I took a rifle and slithered into the scrub. Found several dead Turks about, poor devils - been there since 25 April. Not pleasant to look at ... Unfortunately we can't bury lots of our men, poor chaps. We can see them here and there, but it is almost certain death to go out to them. There are two I would specially like to bury. Lieutenant Wilson and a bugler lad - Bissett from Hawera. He lies with his bugle on his back face downwards, shot in his tracks.”

Edmund Wilson was Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton, on 12 August 1915.

The Auckland Star report of Lieutenant Wilson’s death claims him as an Aucklander, although it does acknowledge his popularity in the town of his adoption, Masterton.

ANOTHER AUCKLANDER KILLED IN ACTION.

LIEUTENANT E. R. WILSON'S DEATH.

Private advices have been received stating that FIRST LIEUTENANT EDMUND ROBINSON WILSON, of the Wairarapa section of the Field Artillery, and formerly of Auckland, was killed in action.

Lieut. Wilson was the third son of Mr. Wm. Wilson, of Wallace Street, Ponsonby and was born in Ireland, coming to New Zealand with his parents 30 years ago. He was educated at Prince Albert College, and was later apprenticed to Mr. Chatfield, dentist, subsequently entering into business as a dentist in Masterton. He took a keen interest in the volunteer movement, and for some years held a commission in the Wairarapa Field Artillery. When the war broke out he was one of the first to volunteer, and was given a commission as first lieutenant in the Waiirarapa section of the Field Artillery, going to Egypt and subsequently  to Gallipoli with the Main Expeditionary Force. Lieutenant Wilson was a splendid type of officer and was very popular with his regiment and in the town of his adoption.

The Dominion reported Lieutenant Wilson’s death on 5 May 1915, as follows:

LIEUTENANT EDMUND ROBINSON WILSON, 17th (Ruahine) Company. Next of kin, Miss Jennie Susan Wilson, 15 Wallace Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. Lieutenant Wilson was born at Ireland, on May and was a dentist by occupation. He resided at Devonshire House, Masterton, and was a single man. At his departure he was Worshipful Master of the Masterton Masonic Lodge.

The Wairarapa Daily Times published this obituary on 4 May 1915:

THE LATE LIEUT.WILSON.

Regret will be universally felt in Masterton at the death of Lieutenant E. R. Wilson, of Masterton, who was among those killed in the fighting at the Dardanelles.  Lieut. Wilson was in charge of a maxim gun squad, most of whom were Masterton men. The late Lieutenant Wilson was very popular in Masterton, and particularly so with the territorials and the men of the New Zealand force, in whom he took a keen interest. He was a great champion of the men in the ranks, and was ever ready to fight their battles. It is not too much to say that the men under him worshipped Lieutenant Wilson, and that the death of no one in the New Zealand forces will be more deeply regretted by the rank and file than that of Lieutenant Wilson.

In September 1915, the Wairarapa Daily Times published this report:

GREAT SOLDIERS

Captain Hastings, of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, writing under date July 7th to relatives at Masterton from the Dardanelles, says: "Perhaps the relatives of the late Lieut. E.R. Wilson, of Masterton, would be pleased to hear that his body was found on the day of the armistice between our troops and the Turks for the purpose of burying the dead. I was in charge of the burying parties on our side, and saw that Lieut. Wilson and other officers and men were given a Christian burial.

A MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED.

———<>———

Advantage was taken of the October meeting of Lodge Masterton, No. 19, to unveil a brass tablet erected to the memory of W. Bro. E. R. Wilson. The ceremony was performed by W. Bro. Henry, who briefly addressed the brethren. He stated that the occasion was not in his opinion one for reciting a eulogy on the departed brother. It was unnecessary to extol his virtues. The facts spoke for themselves. W. Bro. Wilson was a man of many activities. While an able supporter of his own church and a leader of a Bible Class under its auspices, he rendered assistance to other religious denominations, and was an active member of the Y.M.C.A. He was an enthusiastic officer in the Territorial force, and when war was declared the call to active participation therein came to him with great force. Actuated by the highest motives and feelings of patriotism, he wound up his business affairs and sacrificed his practice as a dentist which, after years of hard work, he had been able to establish successfully.

He accepted a commission as Lieutenant in charge of a machine gun section, and left with the Main Expeditionary Force. He was with the first New Zealand Force landed at Gallipoli, and his name figured in the first casualty list to reach Masterton. Since then letters from soldiers at the front published in the Press have made repeated reference to his death Even last week such a letter appeared, and all testified to the fact that he died gloriously while stimulating his men to great efforts. Masonically he was, at the time of his death, our own W.M. They all knew that, with modesty, he had expressed hesitation about accepting the position, stating very definitely that he could not have done so unless he had felt he was able to carry out the high duties attaching to the office, and that he was assured that he had the whole-hearted support of the P.Ms., officers, and brethren. W. Bro. Henry then went on to allude to the beautiful flowers that garlanded the Gallipoli slopes where was our brother's last resting place, and he appropriately concluded by reading from the funeral service the address commencing "Soft and Safe." The W.M. then called the brethren to order, when the Union Jack was removed from the tablet. The tablet, which is of brass and beautifully chased bears the following inscription :—" Sacred to the memory of the late W. Bro. E. R. Wilson, W.M. of this Lodge, who die fighting for the Empire at Gallipoli, April 27th, 1915."—[Lodge Correspondent.] (“The New Zealand Craftsman, December 1915)

Masonic History:

31 March, 1903: Joined Ohaeawai No 101, Age 22, Dentist from Northern Light 1878 EC (Kawakawa Bay of Islands). Date resigned to be located in records.

1 April, 1904: Joined Hokianga 69. Aged 22, Rawene, Dentist. Resigned 3 Jun 1909.

9 June, 1909: Joined Masterton No 19. Dentist, residence Masterton.

Lest we forget…