Harold's Story.
Trooper Harold Wilson 33918 of the 89th Company, Imperial Yeomanry was killed in action on 5th September 1901, at Rhenosterfontein, Gauteng, South Africa. He was 18 years old.
What do we know about Harold?
Harold was born in 1883, Shanghai, China, the son of Harry Guster Oscar Lundberg Wilson (1855-1886) and Bridget Bella Guilfoyle (1856-1902). He had an elder brother Alfred Wilson (1881–1954), as well as step-siblings Eileen and Leslie Dobson from his mother's second and third marriages. His father died in China, and in 1886, when Harold was three years old, Bridget married William Henry Dobson (1856–1906).
By 1891, Bridget was again widowed, and she was living with her two older sons and daughter Eileen at 10 Brookland Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead. She later married Arthur Dobson in 1896 - perhaps a relation of her second husband?
In the 1901 census, on Sunday 7th April, the family's address was 14 Elgin Drive, Liscard, Cheshire but on that very day, Harold was setting sail for South Africa. He had enlisted into the Imperial Yeomanry a month earlier, on 7th March 1901 at Ruabon, claiming to be twenty years old. In fact, he was barely 18. From his attestation document, we know that Harold was 5 foot 10 inches in height, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion.
Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser - Saturday 06 April 1901
Harold died on 5th September 1901, having been shot at Rhenosterfontein. He was 18 years old.
He is commemorated on the Birkenhead Cenotaph as Wilson, H and on the Wallasey memorial as Harold Wilson of the Imperial Yeomanry. His name is inscribed on the Birkenhead Volunteers Memorial plaque, currently at Chester Military Museum (previously in the Drill Hall, Birkenhead).
Birkenhead Cenotaph, Hamilton Street, Birkenhead (opposite the Town Hall)
Wallasey Memorial, Central Park, Liscard Road, Wallasey
A newspaper account from 1904, at the unveiling of the Wallasey Memorial, mentions Harold by name as a casualty.
1904 article
Researched and updated by S. Lewington (May 2025)
What do we know about Harold?
Harold was born in 1883, Shanghai, China, the son of Harry Guster Oscar Lundberg Wilson (1855-1886) and Bridget Bella Guilfoyle (1856-1902). He had an elder brother Alfred Wilson (1881–1954), as well as step-siblings Eileen and Leslie Dobson from his mother's second and third marriages. His father died in China, and in 1886, when Harold was three years old, Bridget married William Henry Dobson (1856–1906).
By 1891, Bridget was again widowed, and she was living with her two older sons and daughter Eileen at 10 Brookland Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead. She later married Arthur Dobson in 1896 - perhaps a relation of her second husband?
In the 1901 census, on Sunday 7th April, the family's address was 14 Elgin Drive, Liscard, Cheshire but on that very day, Harold was setting sail for South Africa. He had enlisted into the Imperial Yeomanry a month earlier, on 7th March 1901 at Ruabon, claiming to be twenty years old. In fact, he was barely 18. From his attestation document, we know that Harold was 5 foot 10 inches in height, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion.
Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser - Saturday 06 April 1901
Harold died on 5th September 1901, having been shot at Rhenosterfontein. He was 18 years old.
He is commemorated on the Birkenhead Cenotaph as Wilson, H and on the Wallasey memorial as Harold Wilson of the Imperial Yeomanry. His name is inscribed on the Birkenhead Volunteers Memorial plaque, currently at Chester Military Museum (previously in the Drill Hall, Birkenhead).
Birkenhead Cenotaph, Hamilton Street, Birkenhead (opposite the Town Hall)
Wallasey Memorial, Central Park, Liscard Road, Wallasey
A newspaper account from 1904, at the unveiling of the Wallasey Memorial, mentions Harold by name as a casualty.
1904 article
Researched and updated by S. Lewington (May 2025)