Whereas the months of July throughout the war saw the 15th Battalion taking part in the endless routine of trench tours in and out of the front lines in both Belgium and France, the months of August were far more intense and as a result, saw far more casualties. The first two years were dominated by trench tours in the Ypres salient. August 1915 was spent in the north Ploegsteert sector predominantly near Hill 63 with locations that would become familiar to the battalion – Grand Munque Farm, Haunted House, The Piggeries where Bruno joined the unit, Gold Fish Farm, and The Devil’s Elbow – and the early part of August 1916 was spent near Hill 60 at ‘The Bluff’. However, the last two years saw the battalion engaged in two very large battles – Hill 70 in August 1917 and Amiens in early August 1918 and the advance to the Drocourt Queant Line at the end of that month.
77440 Corporal Arthur Wilson was 27 year old carpenter originally from Scarborough, England with pre-war Militia service in the 50th Regiment (Gordon Highlanders) when he attested into the 30th Battalion in November 1914 at Victoria, BC. He was part of a very large reinforcing draft from the 30th Battalion that was sent to the 15th Battalion to replace casualties suffered at 2nd Ypres in April.
Corporal Wilson served in No. 1 Company at Festubert and Givenchy in May, the trench tours in June at Ploegsteert and the September-December trench tours on the Messines Road. In May 1916 he was transferred to the Grenade Section and attach posted to the 1st Div Grenade & Trench Mortar School where he was accidently wounded in training. He rejoined the battalion the same month and served at Observatory Ridge Mount Sorrel in June and the June-July – August trench tours at Hill 60 and The Bluff.
Corporal Wilson served on The Somme that Fall and suffered a gun shot wound to the face on September 26th during the battle of Ancre Heights/Regina Trench. He was evacuated to No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance and from there to The Military Hospital, Chatham in October 1916. He underwent further medical treatment for pleurisy at Epsom, Bramshott and Bearwood before being discharged and demobilized in the UK in August 1918. He died of his service related injuries on August 4, 1921 and is buried in Scarborough (Manor Road) Cemetery.
NOK: Son of the late John and Jane Wilson, of Scarborough; husband of Dorothy Wilson, of 97, Murchison St., Scarborough. Mrs A. Wilson (W) 41 N. Marine Rd., Scarborough, England
