George Wilson (VC)

After a comrade fell, he seized the enemy machine gun alone.

George Wilson was born in Edinburgh on 29 April 1886. His father worked at sea and on the docks, and Wilson attended Castlehill School before selling newspapers. After an early attempt to enter the artillery, he joined the Highland Light Infantry in 1904. He transferred to the reserve in 1907 and worked as a miner and newspaper seller before recall at the outbreak of the First World War.

He landed in France with the 2nd Battalion in August 1914. On 14 September, near Verneuil during the battle of the Aisne, an enemy machine gun checked the British advance. Wilson went forward with a soldier of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed. Continuing alone, Wilson reached the position, killed its defenders and captured the gun. He then used it against the enemy and helped bring the weapon and ammunition back. His Victoria Cross was announced in December, and he received it from George V in France.

Wounds and illness interrupted his later service. After treatment in France and Britain he returned to the front in 1915, but was medically discharged in July 1916. Civilian employment proved insecure. He worked in agricultural and municipal jobs and again sold newspapers. In 1919 he re-enlisted for garrison service and went to France, but pleurisy led to another medical discharge in January 1920.

Wilson remained unmarried and lived with his sister Mary as his health deteriorated. He died of tuberculosis at Craigleith Hospital, Edinburgh, on 22 April 1926, a week before his fortieth birthday. He was buried in Piershill Cemetery. Poverty and recurring illness shaped much of the life that followed his celebrated battlefield action.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous gallantry on the 14th of September near Verneuil, in attacking a hostile Machine Gun, accompanied by only one man. When the latter was killed, he went on alone, shot the Officer and six Men working the Gun, which he captured.

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 4 December 1914. 5 December 1914, Numb. 28998, p. 10411