Pte. Richard Atkinson Wilson

Richard Atkinson Wilson was born at Islington, a suburb of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island on 24 February 1891 (reg. 1891/5929). His parents were Thomas Wilson and Martha Wilson (née Tunstall) who had married at St Romald's Church in Romaldkirk, County Durham, England, on 29 October 1867. The family arrived in New Zealand on board the Lady Jocelyn on 11 November 1872. Richard worked as a butcher for C. Neil c/- the New Zealand Refrigerating Company Limited which had been purchased by the Christchurch Meat Company of Islington in 1905. New Zealand had first exported canned meat in 1870, however this proved unsuccessful, and 12 years later the SS Dunedin carried the first shipload of frozen sheep and lamb carcasses to Britain. During World War I Richard served with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion (Service No. WWI 34198). He was wounded in action in Belgium on 29 September 1917, receiving gunshot wounds to the left side of his chest. Richard died of his wounds at the No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 2 October 1917. 26-year-old Richard was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery [XXIV. E. 7]. Bio by Debbie McCauley (9 September 2024).

Sources

1. Canterbury Stories.
2. Cenotaph.
3. Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
4. Lyttelton Times (12 October 1917, p. 4).
5. New Zealand War Graves.
6. Press (3 October 1918, p. 1).