Pte 31193 William Moser Wilson

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 25th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Ham British Cem
  Panel Ref: II.B.29

William Moser was born in the December quarter of 1896 the son of  Joseph James Wilson and his wife Maria (nee Dodd), who were married on 31st May 1874 at St. Michael’s in the Hamlet Church, Liverpool. William was baptised on 8th November 1896 in St. Silas, Toxteth Park. The baptismal records show that his parents were then living at 1 Hodges Mount, his father was employed as a warehouseman. He was the youngest of seven children, his siblings were: Jane, John, Maria (died age 1), Harriet, Alfred and Joseph. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 103 Gladstone Road, Edge Hill, Liverpool. His father is a 47 year old warehouseman for a confectioner, born in Liverpool, his mother is 46 years of age and also born in Liverpool as were all of their children. William is 4 years of age and has five siblings living at home; Jane E. is a 24 year old stationer's assistant, John F. is a 22 year old dock labourer, Harriet A. is 18, Alfred E. is 14 and an apprentice in the boot trade and Joseph J. A. is aged 8. 

By 1911 the family have moved to 182 North Hill Street. His father is a 57 year old warehouseman (chocolate), whilst his mother is 56. They advise that they have been married for 37 years and have had seven children, six of whom have survived. William is now aged 14 and is an office boy, he has three siblings living at home; Harriet Ann aged 28, Alfred Edward aged 24 and boot trade repairer as is his brother Joseph James Havelock aged 18.

He served in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 31193.

William was part of the execution squad on 05th September 1917 in respect of Private 52929 James Smith of the 17th King's Liverpool Regiment.

He was killed in action on the 25^th March 1918, aged 21, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary for 25^th March 1918 gives an insight into the events of the day

MOYENCOURT – ROIGLISE – PLESSIER – PLESSIER FOLIES

Enemy Artillery active during the day – 4 Officers and 80 O.R. were attached to Col. Whitehead (16^th Manchesters) about 4.30 pm orders received to withdraw, which were carried out under considerable enemy shelling. One company being left to cover retreat, the remainder of the Battalion (except detached with 16^th Manchesters) marched to ROIGLISE where they embussed for to PLESSIER and there rested for the night. The company attached to the 16^th Manchesters remained in the front line until 6:50 pm and then withdrew to Cressy.

Such was the confusion at the time that William wasn’t listed as killed in Weekly Casualty List until 14th May 1918. 

William was initially buried in a grave with no cross but his body was identified by disc. His body was exhumed and reburied in Ham British Cemetery in France where he now rests.

In January, February and March 1918, the 61st (South Midland) Casualty Clearing Station was posted at Ham, but on the 23rd March the Germans, in their advance towards Amiens, crossed the Somme at Ham, and the town remained in German hands until the French First Army re-entered it on the following 6th September.

Ham British Cemetery was begun in January 1918 by the 61st Casualty Clearing Station as an extension of Muille-Villette German Cemetery.

In 1919 the graves in the British Cemetery were regrouped and others were added from the following sites:-

HAM COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION (the "Neuer Friedhof Chaunystrasse"); CROIX-MOLIGNAUX GERMAN CEMETERY (March and April 1918); ESMERY HALLON CHURCHYARD; VILLERS ST. CHRISTOPHE CHURCHYARD (March 1918); EPPEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION (March 1918); and ST. SULPICE COMMUNAL CEMETERY.

Ham British Cemetery contains 485 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 218 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 14 soldiers, believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 39 casualties known to have been buried in other cemeteries whose graves were not found.

Other German Cemeteries in the area were HAM CHURCHYARD GERMAN EXTENSION; MUILLE-VILLETTE GERMAN CEMETERY and MUILLE-VILLETTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION. The British Graves from these three were moved to either HAM BRITISH CEMETERY or ROYE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY.

MUILLE-VILLETTE GERMAN CEMETERY adjoins the West side of the British Cemetery. It now contains the graves of 1,113 identified and 420 unidentified German soldiers.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Joseph James.

His parents both lived long lives, his mother died in 1931 age 76, whilst his father died in 1942 age 88.

We currently have no further information on William Moser Wilson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.