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Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (7) clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (2414 Pte J. Wilson, Cldstm: Gds:);
KSA (2) (2414 Pte J. Wilson. Coldstream Guards.), suspension loose

Joseph Wilson was born at London in 1875, the son of Robert Wilson of Gracious Street, Gracious Street, Knaresborough. Serving- prior to enlistment with the Guards- in the 3rd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, he further listed service in the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment on his attestation. Enlisting with the Coldstream Guards on 3 February 1899.

Wilson was posted to South Africa on 21 October 1899 and will have been stationed with the 1st Guards Brigade under Major General Colville during the push to relieve Kimberly. Most notably they held their ground under intense fire at the Modder River despite high casualties. Wilson later took part in the advances upon the Boer capitals of Bloemfontein and Pretoria seeing further heavy fighting. Leaving South Africa on 6 October 1902 he was posted to the Army Reserve on 16 October having completed his period of service.

Wilson died while still serving in the Reserve on 1 March 1910 at Stockton-on-Tees as a result of acute Pneumonia and heart failure. He is buried at Guisborough Cemetery