Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Wilson Walter Hammond was born on 15 March 1891, at 142 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk to parents John and Ellen Hammond.

By 1901, Wilson was living at 4 Eastbourne Place, Norwich with his parents and four siblings.  His father was a commercial traveller.  In 1911, the family had moved to 2 Ladysmith Road, Catton, Norwich and Wilson’s occupation was listed as an engineer’s clerk.

Wilson attested on a four year engagement to the Territorial Army on 9 October 1915, joining the 1st East Anglian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, which later became  the 345^th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.   Wilson was promoted to Acting Lance Bombardier on 26 February 1916, and to Acting Bombardier on 11 September 1916.  He passed through Peterborough East Station and signed the visitors’ book on 27 November 1916, which reveals he was stationed with the 345th Bde at Wetherby, Yorkshire.  He was discharged on 24 April 1917, his address was 38 Leicester Street, Norwich.  There is no evidence of any service overseas.

Wilson married Hilda Blanche Page in 1916, in Norwich and they lived at 38 Leicester Street, Norwich.  Hilda was a dressmaker. There is no record of any children from this marriage.

In the 1920s Wilson and Hilda moved to Wandsworth and Lambeth, London, and by the 1930s they had moved to Cheam, Surrey.

We have traced Wilson in the 1939 Register and he was living at 33 Grenville Gardens, Wanstead, Essex, he is recorded as married and working as a casting clerk.  He is with his brother Cyril and his wife Eleanor and their family.

Wilson died in Epping, Surrey in 1965, aged 74 years.

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