Sunday 22nd August 1915

The King, who had inspected 23^rd Division three days earlier, sent a message ahead of their departure:

“OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN

You are about to join your comrades at the Front in bringing to a successful end this relentless War of over twelve months’ duration. Your prompt patriotic answer to the Nation’s Call to Arms will never be forgotten. The keen exertions of all ranks during the period of training have brought you to a state of efficiency not unworthy of my Regular Army. I am confident that in the Field you will nobly uphold the traditions of the fine regiments whose names you bear. Ever since your enrolment I have closely watched the growth and steady progress of all units. I shall continue to follow with interest the fortunes of your Division. In bidding you farewell, I pray that God will bless you in all your undertakings”.

In advance of the Battalion’s impending deployment overseas, a final round of vaccinations was carried out under the supervision of the Battalion Medical Officer, Lt. John David Wilson. The exact nature of the vaccinations is not stated, but it is clear from the example of Pte. Joseph Simpson (see below) that not all vaccinations were successful.

 

Dr. John David Wilson was born in 1886; he was the son of the late Adam Wilson, a former provost (mayor) of Armadale. John had attended Armadale Public School and George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, before going on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He graduated in 1909 and became partner with Dr. Steel in Hamilton, and remained there till 1915, when he was gazetted to the R.A.M.C. and attached to 10^th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment.

Dr. John David Wilson

 Col. George Rainier Crawford (see 4^th May), the original Commanding Officer of 10DWR, died aged 53. He had been taken ill early in 1915 and had relinquished command of the Battalion. At the time of his death he had been living at 2 Beechworth Villas, Hale’s Road, Cheltenham, and his widow, Katherine Maud Crawford, continued to live there until her death on 29^th October 1937.