2 Jan 1866 - Born in Randalstown (County Antrim), to James Wilson, a weaver, and his wife Sarah* (née Nesbitt). [*Also spelled Saragh?]
3 October 1885 - Joined the Royal Irish Rifles at age 19 years, 9 months [not 18 as stated on his subsequent discharge papers].
2 May 1896 - Married Margaret (Maggie) Lindsay in St Anne's Parish Cathedral (Belfast), probably in the chapel. He was a laborer at this time, and probably also a reservist.
2 October 1897 - First discharged from RIR, having served on active duty for 8 years (and 28 days), followed by 3 years (and 342 days) in reserve, for a total of 12 years of service. Descendants recall that his active duty included service in Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, and Egypt.
Circa 1899 - Returned to active duty, probably as the British began re-building a 2nd Btn of the RIR for the Second Boer War (Dec 1899 to May 1902). Tour of duty included Canada (Halifax) and South Africa, with the Royal Defense Corp in Pietermaritzburg and Robert's Heights. [Robert's Heights was established as a garrison town by the British after the Anglo Boer War and taken over by South African Department of Defense after Union in 1910.]
1900 - Halifax, Canada - Family buried a son, William, age 6 weeks.
1908 (on or about December 24) - Robert's Heights, South Africa - The family buried another son, Jackie, age seven, after he died from complications of a tonsillectomy. Andrew Wilson was demoted, from Sergeant Major to Sergeant, for threatening an officer he believed to be drunk while operating on Jackie.
Circa 1912 - Second discharge.
Circa 1914 - Recalled during WWI, as the British built up 13 battalions of Royal Irish Rifles, and probably served in a training role [Reg No 73975).
1 (or 2?) July 1916 - Eldest son Andrew (Rifleman, RIR) killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
23 March 1919 - Third discharge. His address noted as Riga Street, Belfast.
3 October 1885 - Joined the Royal Irish Rifles at age 19 years, 9 months [not 18 as stated on his subsequent discharge papers].
2 May 1896 - Married Margaret (Maggie) Lindsay in St Anne's Parish Cathedral (Belfast), probably in the chapel. He was a laborer at this time, and probably also a reservist.
2 October 1897 - First discharged from RIR, having served on active duty for 8 years (and 28 days), followed by 3 years (and 342 days) in reserve, for a total of 12 years of service. Descendants recall that his active duty included service in Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, and Egypt.
Circa 1899 - Returned to active duty, probably as the British began re-building a 2nd Btn of the RIR for the Second Boer War (Dec 1899 to May 1902). Tour of duty included Canada (Halifax) and South Africa, with the Royal Defense Corp in Pietermaritzburg and Robert's Heights. [Robert's Heights was established as a garrison town by the British after the Anglo Boer War and taken over by South African Department of Defense after Union in 1910.]
1900 - Halifax, Canada - Family buried a son, William, age 6 weeks.
1908 (on or about December 24) - Robert's Heights, South Africa - The family buried another son, Jackie, age seven, after he died from complications of a tonsillectomy. Andrew Wilson was demoted, from Sergeant Major to Sergeant, for threatening an officer he believed to be drunk while operating on Jackie.
Circa 1912 - Second discharge.
Circa 1914 - Recalled during WWI, as the British built up 13 battalions of Royal Irish Rifles, and probably served in a training role [Reg No 73975).
1 (or 2?) July 1916 - Eldest son Andrew (Rifleman, RIR) killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
23 March 1919 - Third discharge. His address noted as Riga Street, Belfast.
2 Jan 1866 - Born in Randalstown (County Antrim), to James Wilson, a weaver, and his wife Sarah* (née Nesbitt). [*Also spelled Saragh?]
3 October 1885 - Joined the Royal Irish Rifles at age 19 years, 9 months [not 18 as stated on his subsequent discharge papers].
2 May 1896 - Married Margaret (Maggie) Lindsay in St Anne's Parish Cathedral (Belfast), probably in the chapel. He was a laborer at this time, and probably also a reservist.
2 October 1897 - First discharged from RIR, having served on active duty for 8 years (and 28 days), followed by 3 years (and 342 days) in reserve, for a total of 12 years of service. Descendants recall that his active duty included service in Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, and Egypt.
Circa 1899 - Returned to active duty, probably as the British began re-building a 2nd Btn of the RIR for the Second Boer War (Dec 1899 to May 1902). Tour of duty included Canada (Halifax) and South Africa, with the Royal Defense Corp in Pietermaritzburg and Robert's Heights. [Robert's Heights was established as a garrison town by the British after the Anglo Boer War and taken over by South African Department of Defense after Union in 1910.]
1900 - Halifax, Canada - Family buried a son, William, age 6 weeks.
1908 (on or about December 24) - Robert's Heights, South Africa - The family buried another son, Jackie, age seven, after he died from complications of a tonsillectomy. Andrew Wilson was demoted, from Sergeant Major to Sergeant, for threatening an officer he believed to be drunk while operating on Jackie.
Circa 1912 - Second discharge.
Circa 1914 - Recalled during WWI, as the British built up 13 battalions of Royal Irish Rifles, and probably served in a training role [Reg No 73975).
1 (or 2?) July 1916 - Eldest son Andrew (Rifleman, RIR) killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
23 March 1919 - Third discharge. His address noted as Riga Street, Belfast.
3 October 1885 - Joined the Royal Irish Rifles at age 19 years, 9 months [not 18 as stated on his subsequent discharge papers].
2 May 1896 - Married Margaret (Maggie) Lindsay in St Anne's Parish Cathedral (Belfast), probably in the chapel. He was a laborer at this time, and probably also a reservist.
2 October 1897 - First discharged from RIR, having served on active duty for 8 years (and 28 days), followed by 3 years (and 342 days) in reserve, for a total of 12 years of service. Descendants recall that his active duty included service in Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, and Egypt.
Circa 1899 - Returned to active duty, probably as the British began re-building a 2nd Btn of the RIR for the Second Boer War (Dec 1899 to May 1902). Tour of duty included Canada (Halifax) and South Africa, with the Royal Defense Corp in Pietermaritzburg and Robert's Heights. [Robert's Heights was established as a garrison town by the British after the Anglo Boer War and taken over by South African Department of Defense after Union in 1910.]
1900 - Halifax, Canada - Family buried a son, William, age 6 weeks.
1908 (on or about December 24) - Robert's Heights, South Africa - The family buried another son, Jackie, age seven, after he died from complications of a tonsillectomy. Andrew Wilson was demoted, from Sergeant Major to Sergeant, for threatening an officer he believed to be drunk while operating on Jackie.
Circa 1912 - Second discharge.
Circa 1914 - Recalled during WWI, as the British built up 13 battalions of Royal Irish Rifles, and probably served in a training role [Reg No 73975).
1 (or 2?) July 1916 - Eldest son Andrew (Rifleman, RIR) killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
23 March 1919 - Third discharge. His address noted as Riga Street, Belfast.
Gravesite Details
Age: 71
Family Members
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