2nd Class Constable 342, Arthur Wilson, served the Force from 3rd October 1913 until enlisting on 31st May 1915. Arthur was a Lincolnshire man being born at Sutton Bridge and educated at Wisbech Grammar School, where he had an exhibition scholarship for three years. He joined the Derbyshire Constabulary three years prior to his death and all his service had been spent in the offices, first at Headquarters, then at Ilkeston, and just prior to enlisting at Alfreton, where he was the divisional clerk to Supt. Fennel. Just four days after he was married he travelled to Buxton to join the Chatsworth Rifles on the 7th of June 1915. After training in England he went to France in the following March, and had been abroad about seven months. His clerical experience in the Police Force served him well in the Army for promotion came in the first weeks and he rapidly reached the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys Regt) Mrs Wilson received the first intimation of her husband’s death from her sister, who lived at Buxton, and whose husband was also in the Army. Capt Cooke, the deceased superior officer, writing to a fellow officer (Capt Stone) in the same regiment, intimated that he was sorry to say that his Company Quartermaster Sergeant was knocked over and finished as he was returning from the trenches, and that he was by far the best man of his rank and a jolly sort thoroughly liked. Capt Stone mentioned his brother officer’s loss to his own sergeant and he chanced to be Mrs Wilson’s sister’s husband. He appears to have been killed on the 7th September (1916). A few days later Mrs Wilson’s worst fears were realised upon the receipt of the following letter from Captain Cooke:- “It is with great regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband. I know it is a tremendous blow, but it may be some small consolation to you to know that he died when on duty returning from the trenches. He has been buried in a cemetery near the line and a cross with his name and regiment will be erected on the spot. I have not been able to trace all his personal belongings but will do what I can to find them and they will be sent to you through the usual channels”. Quartermaster Sergeant 26947 Wilson is commemorated at the Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension.
andrew picken