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Pte. John "Baity" Wilson
British Army 11 Btn. C Coy. Durham Light Infantry
from:Middle Rainton
(d.2nd Sep 1916)
John Wilson (Baity) was an ex minor from the Adventure pit, who joined the Army in 1914, 11th Batt; DLI 3-10828, was killed at the Battle of the Somme on 2nd September 1916. His name appears on the war memorial in West Rainton and also on a brass plaque in the porch of St Michael’s RC church in Houghton-le-Spring along with other fallen lads. John was a also Hawker, (selling fish from a horse and cart) but all the brothers did this for their mum at one time or another. He was also a collier and worked at the Adventure pit West Rainton. He was nicknamed Baity for the amount of sandwiches - bait - he took to work down the pit.
John joined the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry after war was declared. In 1915 the battalion spent time in the front line in France, following which John was allowed home leave. When the time came to go back to France, he caught the correct train from Durham station but, unfortunately, the engine broke down somewhere and he had to be found a place on another train. This delay caused him to miss his ship back to France and his connections there. By the time he returned two days late, the battalion had gone back into the front line. He was brought before an officer, who told him he could be tried for desertion from the front, punishable by death or accept field punishment number one there and then without representation. He chose this punishment, which involved him doing hard labour and being tied to the wheel of a field gun for up to two hours a day – but for how many days I do not know.
John was killed on 2nd September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. I recall being told that my Great Gran was devastated at the news of his death and she always wanted to know what had happened to him since his body was never found after a trench burial. When she went shopping in Sunderland she would ask ex-DLI soldiers if they had met him and how he died. One day, by chance, someone said “yes, I was there; he was shot in the stomach, and died slowly without any medical help, and was crying for his mother when he diedâ€. Although this caused her distress at least it gave some closure. John Wilson’s name is on the monument at Thiepval, on the war memorial in West Rainton and also on a brass plaque in the porch of St Michael’s RC church in Houghton-le-Spring along with other fallen lads.
There are some inaccuracies in his service record: John was most certainly Not, C of E, His mum would have had a fit to hear this. She was strong Catholic, as were All of her children. But if you put down Catholic when you were enlisted,you were meant to attend services every Sunday. If you were not strong catholic, you put down C of E and then life was easier. He was most certainly late from leave as they say, but they miss the most important bit. His train was delayed when on leave from the front, and he arrived back 3 days late, no fault of his. But the regiment had gone back to the front line. He was given the choice of a court marshal,and firing squad, or accept field punishment No 1 tied cruciform to a field gun wheel for three days. This he accepted. From this he developed pneumonia, was sent to hospital, for a few days, and returned to the front line. From someone with him, we were told he was shot in the stomach, and died after 3 days without any medical help. What can you say.
