208583 L/Cpl. James Wilson British Army 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry James Wilson is mentioned in the service records of his friend Albert Dixon, who was being researched by one of the visitors to The Wartime Memories Project, Time Slides event. James and Albert were both wounded at the Battle of Loos, being unable to walk, the two men crawled together for 4 days but on approaching a house, Albert was shot. James remained with him until he passed away and then crawled for a further six hours before being rescued and taken for medical treatment. He was contacted by the Vicar of Eldon on behalf of Albert's mother when he heard from another solider that he had been with Albert when he died. From his hospital bed at Lady Shadbrook's Hospital at Henham Hall in Sussex. James was able to confirm the circumstances surrounding Albert's death and bring some closure to the family who had been informed that he was missing.
James had arrived in France on the 11th of September 1915 and was wounded on the 25th of September. After a spell in hospital, he was discharged from the Army and awarded a Silver War Badge to mark that he had done his service for his county.
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