| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Private 1562 Wilson Ernest Penney served in 'D' Company, in the 5th Battalion of Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment. He enlisted in the Territorial Force prior to the Great War and was called to the colours at the outbreak of the war. After coastal defence work in the north-east of England, the Battalion embarked for France with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division and arrived at Boulogne on 18 Apr 1915. The Battalion was rapidly engaged in the 2nd Battle of Ypres in the action at St Julien, where their bravery earned them the praise of Sir John French, Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force.
The Beverley Guardian of 30 Sep 1916 reported Wilson was in 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham having been wounded in the Battle of the Somme on 14 Sep 1916. He was discharged from the Army on 28 Jun 1917.
Wilson was born in Kilham the 10 Feb 1896, the son of Hannah Maria Hodgson and was originally known as Wilson Ernest Hodgson. He was baptised in the parish church at Kilham on 23 Oct 1898. In 1896 his mother married a widower, George Penney, a native of Wareham in Dorset, lately employed as a groom at Little Pockthorpe, Nafferton. At the time of the 1911 Census the family lived at 18 Adelphi Street, Driffield and George was a Rulley-driver for Francis Purdon and Sons, Auctioneer and Furniture Dealer of Exchange Street, Driffield. By then, fifteen-year-old Wilson Hodgson had assumed his step-father's surname and become Wilson Ernest Penney.
Wilson was buried in Driffield Cemetery on 30 Apr 1937, aged 41. He was unmarried and his death was registered in his original name, Wilson Ernest Hodgson.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |