Colonel Richard WILSON (1846-1901)

1. Colonel Richard Bassett WILSON, son of Richard Bassett WILSON (1806-1867) and Anne FITZGERALD ( -1877), was born in 1846 in Cliffe Hall, Piercebridge. He was a Colonel in the Army. He died on 21 March 1901.

 

Born in 1846 at Cliffe Hall, Piercebridge, he was educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford. He joined 3 (Militia) DLI in 1870 and rose to Honorary Colonel in 1893. He took his battalion to South Africa in January 1900 and was Mentioned in Despatches in February 1901. He died of enteric fever and pnuemonia at Kroonstad, on 21 March 1901. He was made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for his service in the Boer War. Richard Wilson's brother and nephew also died in the Boer War of wounds received in action.

These medals are located in Medal Case 29, Display Group 39:
Order: St Michael & St George
Queen's South Africa (1899-02)

"War Office, March 4 1902.
MEMORANDUM
IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.
The undermentioned Officers resign their commissions and receive new commissions subject to the provisions of the Militia and Yeomanry Act, 1901, each retaining his present rank and seniority, viz.:-
(...) Yorkshire Hussars (Princess of Wales's Own). (...) Lieut.H.B.de la P.Beresford-Peirse, D.S.O."

A couple weeks later, on Friday, March 14th, he attended "a service (...) held (...) at Manfield Church, near Darlington, in memory of Colonel J.G.Wilson, C.B., of Cliffe-hall, who was killed at Klip Drift. (...) The lych-gates at the entrance to the churchyard were erected last June by public suscription in memory of Colonel Wilson's son, who also died in South Africa".
The latter, Lieutenant Richard Bassett Wilson, had died at Rustenburg on July 26th, 1900, of wounds received in action five days previously at Oliphant’s Nek - he was an officer of the Yorkshire Hussars.

It is to be noted that an unofficial tribute medal was awarded by the "Committee of the Yorkshire Volunteer Equiptment & Emergency Fund" to all members of the 3rd battalion (Yorkshire) Imperial Yeomanry "in recognition of their patriotism and the good service rendered by them in South Africa".

 

Hart's Annual Army List:

Richard Bassett Wilson, 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry (1st Durham Militia)

2nd Lieut or Ensign 18th July 1865
Lieut 8th April 1870
Captain 4th July 1874
Appointed to Reserve 7th July 1880

 

Born in 1846 at Cliffe Hall, Piercebridge, he was educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford. He joined 3 (Militia) DLI in 1870 and rose to Honorary Colonel in 1893. He took his battalion to South Africa in January 1900 and was Mentioned in Despatches in February 1901. He died of enteric fever and pnuemonia at Kroonstad, on 21 March 1901. He was made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for his service in the Boer War. Richard Wilson's brother and nephew also died in the Boer War of wounds received in action.