Universities at War

Andrew Wilson was born 5 March 1894 at Hartburn, Northumberland, the son of Mr and Mrs Andrew Wilson. His father, a Northumberland shepherd, is recorded as a widower in the 1901 census, and was remarried with young children by the time of the next census in 1911. Andrew had a sister Elizabeth, and two half-brothers, John and Albert. In the same 1911 census Andrew is already in teacher training, probably a pupil teacher, boarding with his uncle John Dobby, a Newcastle bricklayer. He then studied at Bede College 1912-1914, and after leaving was employed as a teacher at Cambo in Northumberland. He enlisted at Durham and joined the 1/8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as Private 8/1984 and went to France with battalion on 19 April 1915, serving in A Company. He was reported in The Bede magazine as having been mortally wounded on 26 April 1915 during the heavy fighting on the Gravenstafel Ridge in the 2nd Battle of Ypres and died at a British Dressing Station. His grave was lost in the fighting and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres. He is also honoured on the Obelisk at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cambo, and on the Bede College 1914-1918 Cross, Plaque, and Roll of Honour.