Military Details
Regiment : 8th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Rank : Lance Corporal
Service Number : 1448
Killed in action; Belgium 25 April 1915 Aged 33
The 1914 Star (also known as 'Pip') was authorised under Special Army Order no. 350 in November 1917 and by an Admiralty Fleet Order in 1918, for award to officers and men of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces who served in France or Belgium between 5 August and midnight of 22–23 November 1914. The former date is the day after Britain's declaration of war against the Central Powers, and the closing date marks the end of the First Battle of Ypres.
The 1914–15 Star (also known as 'Pip') was instituted in December 1918 and was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served against the Central European Powers in any theatre of the Great War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. The period of eligibility was prior to the introduction of the Military Service Act 1916, which instituted conscription in Britain.
The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
Talbot Ernest Wilson was my husband’s 1st cousin 3x removed. Some of the personal details recorded here are incorrect. He was born in 1880 (see Holywell Baptisms) to Talbot Thomas Wilson (a British citizen born in Germany) and Elizabeth Leighton (see Census 1881). His sister, Effie Maud Wilson, was born in 1882, the year their mother died. Their father married Elizabeth’s sister, Augusta Leighton in 1887 (see civil marriages West Derby, Lancs). The family moved to Bickley, and two more children were added to the family: Mabel Rosamund in 1889 and John Talbot in 1894. John also fought in WW1, but unlike Talbot he survived.
Talbot married Jessie Whitridge as your record shows. They had three children together: Eileen (1904), Charles (1907) and Olga (1911). The 1911 census shows Talbot boarding in Ellesmere Port with Jessie’s family, and his son Charles, while Jessie was still on the Isle of Man with their two daughters. Sadly, it is unknown whether the couple were able to establish a home of their own before Talbot enlisted.
Many thanks for your additional family information. We will correct our website. We have looked at what information we can find which might answer your question as to whether Talbot and Jessie were able to establish a home of their own. Talbot sailed to Canada arriving in December 1912 and enlisted in the Canadian Infantry in September 1914. On his enlistment papers he gave his next of kin’s (Jessie’s) address as Ivy House, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire which was the address at which he was boarding on the 1911 Census, the home of Charles & Annie Whitridge. Jessie subsequently married Arthur William Hudson on 1st November 1921 and the 1939 Register shows them living in Manchester.
Terry Fry
Volunteer at Whitchurch Museum & Archives