114 Mahrattas attd 105 Mahratta LI
Dr Wilson’s Bereavement
Death of Third and Last Son
General and sincere sympathy is felt with Doctor and Mrs Wilson in the
death of their eldest and last son, Captain Herbert Raymond Wilson, Indian
Infantry who died of wounds January 9th in Mesopotamia.
His two younger brothers were killed in France in 1915 Captain Geoffrey
MU Wilson Wiltshire Regiment (who was 20 years of age) on September 25th;
and Captain Evelyn S Wilson, East Yorkshire Regiment September 29th.
Captain Herbert Raymond Wilson was born at Chippenham in September 1888
and was educated at St Peter’s school, Weston Super Mare and Repton,
where he gained an Open Army Class scholarship. Leaving Repton for
Sandhurst with an Indian Army cadetship in 1907. For a year he attached to
the Yorks and Lancashire Regiment at Quetta and was gazetted to one of the
Mahratta Regiments early in 1909. He served in Tibet and North Assam with
the Chinese Frontier Commission and was Political Agent to the Chief
Commissioner of Assam, Sir Archibald Earle. Recalled to his regiment on
the outbreak of the war, he was in some of the early fighting in
Mesopotamia, but contracted typhoid and was invalided home for six months.
He returned to India in March last year and went to the front in the
October following.
Mrs Wilson is the commandant of the local Red Cross hospital and not
withstanding the great sorrow which has fallen upon her, she remains at
her post of duty in superintending the services of those who are tending
the sick and wounded in our midst.
Wilts Times 20 January 1917
9 January 1917 aged 22 years. Capt 114 Mahratta Light Infantry.
Third son of Dr Mervyn Seppings (died 29 Sept 1933 aged 79) and Mrs
Helena Jane Wilson (died 3 March 1934 aged 75)
Parents headstone, Chippenham Cemetery
Memorial to 3 Soldier Sons
Dedication service at Parish Church
The stained glass window, which has been placed in the Parish church by
Dr and Mrs Wilson in memory of their 3 soldier sons, who have been killed
in the war, was unveiled and formally dedicated on Sunday evening. The
holding of the dedication service coincided with the date (29th September)
on which one son was born, another baptised and another killed.
To the Glory of God and memory of the 3 sons of Mervyn Seppings and
Helena Jane Wilson.
Herbert Raymond Wilson, Capt, 114th Maharattas. Born September 29th
1888. Killed in action January 9th 1917 in Mesopotamia.
Evelyn Seppings Wilson, Capt, East Yorks Regt. Born March 5th 1893.
Killed in action September 29th 1915 at Hullock, France.
Geoffrey Mervyn Underhill Wilson, Capt, Wiltshire Regiment. Born August
5th 1894. Killed in action September 25th 1915 at Loos, France.
Wilts Times 5 October 1918
The Wilson family came to Chippenham in 1887. Mr Wilson was a county
councillor in 1904 - 1910 and church warden of St Andrew's church. Mrs
Wilson became the commandant of the Chippenham Red Cross hospital and was
appointed OBE for her war service.