A fine Second War ‘retaking of Point 198 on the Djebel Roumana’ Immediate M.M. group of seven awarded to Private W. W. Wilson, 5th Battalion, Black Watch, who was later wounded on D-day and killed in action on 4 October 1944, at St Odenrode, Holland

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2758531 Pte. W. W. Wilson. Black Watch.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (7) £1,600-£2,000

M.M. London Gazette 22 July 1943. The recommendation for the award of an Immediate M.M. states:
‘During the retaking of Pt 198 on the DJEBEL ROUMANA by 5 Black Watch on the afternoon of 6th April, 1943, this private soldier was a member of No. 7 section to whose skill the ultimate retaking of pt 198 was to no small measure due. Quite unperturbed by the mortaring which was heavy and sustained and grenades which he had to undergo for four hours, Pte. Wilson maintained his L.M.G. in action throughout the fight. On the following morning two spandau posts were found with the German team lying dead over their weapons both posts being within 20 yards of the point that Pte. Wilson had reached the previous evening. It was only Pte. Wilson’s quiet courage and high sense of duty which enabled him to work his way up the very steep slope of the ROUMANA feature to a point so close to the enemy and it was only when he got so close that he could see to fire. Pte. Wilson never relaxed and fired his Bren unceasingly during the enemy’s withdrawal that night. No praise is too high for the gallantry of his action.’

William Walsh Wilson was born in 1921, son of James and Jane Wilson of East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland.

The following information was provided by Corporal W. Kingston who served with Wilson in the same platoon: ‘Corporal Wilson was a butcher by trade and was known as ‘Rigger’. He often butchered pigs to supplement rations. He was killed leading a patrol which consisted of himself and two others. This was at St Odenrode in Holland and Wilson was killed by a bullet through his head from a sniper.’ Corporal Kingstone also thought that Wilson was not long returned to the Battalion having been wounded in Normandy.

Corporal W. W. Wilson was killed in action at St Odenrode, near Eindhoven, on 4 October 1944, aged 25, and is buried in Uden War cemetery, Nertherlands.