William James Wilson

[recorder]

Can members help me please.  I am trying to get information on the WW1 service of
William James Wilson of 88 Crown St, Liverpool. He was born about 1888 and married Winifred Moss in 1915. He shows his occupation on the marriage certificate as soldier. I can offer no other info other than his parents' names Thomas & Margaret Wilson. Any snippets members can find would be most welcome.

[jim1]

I'm not sure how many William/William J & WJ Wilsons there were in the Army but probably 100's.
We'll see what turns up.
Edit:
There looks to be around 150.
It's going to be a bit of a trawl & about 70% of service records were destroyed in the Blitz.
One avenue is the 1918/19 Absent Voter's List which names men serving away from home. These often give service no's. etc.
Reading up, it doesn't look like there is one for Liverpool.

[Gwil]

I agree with Jim that the AVLs do not seem to exist for Liverpool.

The marriage is in the Liverpool Echo BMDs dated 30 12 1915 where he is shown as William James Wilson L.F.R.E. (T.T.)
link (FindMyPast) =  https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000271%2f19151230%2f108

Quite what they mean I don't know unless it's a local Royal Engineers unit and the TT is a typo for TF (Territorial Force) That is of course if it's a miitary acronym in the first place.

Whilst looking I came across a BMD re death in action of Rifleman William Smith KLR killed in action
June 19 1917, eldest son of the late William H and Anna Smith and nephew of Mr & Mrs T Wilson 88 Crown Street        https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000271%2f19170626%2f097

might be part of your family?

[Gwil]

LFRE may be Lancs Fortress Royal Engineers

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-corps-of-royal-engineers-in-the-first-world-war/the-fortress-companies-of-the-royal-engineers/

(scroll down to the TF units)

[jim1]

Good find Gwil.
Certainly sounds like he's RE TF.

[recorder]

Dear Jim & Gwil, whilst we may not have won the jackpot yet we have had success. The family were mainly members of either the King's liverpool or Lancs Hussars. However we have a photograph of one  family member believed to be WJW and a local WW1 buff has identified a Royal Engineers cap badge. We are confident the photo is WJW so we have moved on. In the light of this info what can we do now? Peter.

Ps A sincere thank you to you both for your endeavours on our behalf. We would be lost without your help.

[jim1]

The LFRE were home based so he may not have gone overseas unless he was transferred to another unit.
You may have to content yourself in the knowledge that he did his bit.

[recorder]

Hello again Jim and Gwil,

William Smith whom you found and WJW were related and all lived together at 88 Crown St. I will look at the link to the Liverpool Echo as there is certainly some new info. I will also see what I can find about the Royal Engineers. Thanks again for your help.  Peter

[recorder]

Dear Jim & Gwil, - following your pointing me towards the Royal Engineers I have done a lot of work on the RE's activities. From family memoires I am confident that he was with the Lancashire Fortress Royal Engineers hence the initials LFRE.  Any info you have on LFRE would be welcomed.  Peter