Private Charles James Wilson
Charles James Wilson was born on 20 June 1886 at Drumnagoon, Portadown, County Armagh, the fourth of five children of farmer Richard Wilson and his wife Jane Eliza (née McMurray). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Drumnagoon with his parents and two surviving siblings – the others had died of tuberculosis in recent years.
Wilson enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 1908 and 1911 (regimental number unknown).
On 17 June 1911 the Portadown News reported that:
Portadown has had three members of the North Irish Horse, whose headquarters are at Belfast, selected to attend at the Coronation. This is very creditable to the Portadown men, as there are only twenty-four chosen to represent the regiment. These local men are – Corporal T. Medcalfe, Seagoe; Trooper C. Wilson, Drumnagoon; and Trooper M. Boyle, Drumcree.
Wilson died of tuberculosis at Drumnagoon on 29 May 1913. Some days later the Portadown News reported:
On Sunday the remains of Trooper Charles Wilson were removed from his residence in Drumnagoon for interment in Seagoe Cemetery. Deceased was a member of the North Irish Horse, and behind the hearse marched a detachment of the regiment, in charge of Sergeant Major Bleakley. The funeral was the largest that has ever been seen leaving the district. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. J. E. Archer, B.D., assisted by the Rev. George R. Bloomer, B.A., and before the coffin was lowered, two trumpeters sounded the "Last Post."