Alfred James Stenhouse Wilson (1894-1982)
Mechanician from Blackhill served for four years in the RNAS at home and in Egypt and Malta
Alfred James Stenhouse Wilson was born 07-May-1894 in Blackhill. His father was William Turnbull Wilson born in 1869 in Berwickshire, Scotland who is described as working as a Deputy Overman at the time of the 1911 Census. His mother Isabella, who already had the surname Wilson even before her marriage in 1893, was born in 1871 in Blackhill and had worked as a Milliner’s Assistant before the marriage. The family lived in Colliery Row, Houghton-le-Spring in 1901 and Station Avenue, Fencehouses in 1911. Alfred was the eldest child and had 3 sisters ( Jessie b.1898, Elizabeth b.1900, Helen b.1904) and one brother (William b 1909).
At the time of the 1911 census Alfred was working as an Apprentice Engineer but had become a Mechanician in civilian life when he enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 02-Jun-1915 for the duration of the war. He was given the service number F5342 and an initial rank of Air Mechanic 2nd class. He was first posted to Kingsnorth in Kent where he was promoted to Acting Air Mechanic 1st class on 01-Aug-1916. After this initial posting he was transferred to Pembroke in Wales where he was confirmed as an Air Mechanic 1st class on 30-Apr-1917. A further promotion to Leading Mechanic followed on 01-Aug-1917 at which time he was posted to the Seaplane Station at Port Said in Egypt.
The RAF was formed by combining the RNAS and Royal Flying Corps on 01-Apr-1918 while Alfred was still serving in Egypt and he transferred with the service number 205342 as a Corporal Mechanic in the new service structure. In August 1918, he was posted to HMS Engadine in the Mediterranean Sea. This was a seaplane tender that supported the operation of seaplanes by carrying both planes and all the facilities needed for their operation; in effect a forerunner of the later aircraft carriers.
After 3 months at sea, in October 1918, Alfred was posted to Malta where he served out the rest of his time before being returned to the UK on 14-June 1919 for discharge. He is recorded as being medical category A1 on discharge.
Alfred returned to the northeast where he married Winifred Mary White (1902-1965) from Whitley Bay in 1931. They had 1 son who was born in 1936 and named John. Alfred outlived his wife who died in Tynemouth in the mid 1960s when they were living in 18 Stanwick Street. In his wife’s probate record Alfred is described as a retired Superintendent Engineer. Alfred died in the Gateshead area in 1982.
Alfred James Stenhouse Wilson was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his wartime service.
Civil Parish: Consett
Birth date: 07-May-1894
Death date: 1982
Armed force/civilian: Air Force
Residence: Blackhill, Consett (1894 birth record)
Colliery Row, Houghton-le-Spring (1901 census)
Station Avenue, Fencehouses (1911 census)
Cork Villa, Fencehouses (1919 RAF service record)
18 Stanwick Street, Tynemouth (1965 wife’s probate record)
Gateshead 1982 (death record)
Military service:
Enlisted in Royal Naval Air Service, F5342, Air Mechanic 2nd class 02-Jun-1915
Promoted to Acting Air Mechanic 1st class, 01-Aug-1916
Promoted to Air Mechanic 1st class, 30-Apr-1917
Promoted to Leading Mechanic, 01-Aug-1917
Transferred to Royal Air Force, 205342, Corporal Mechanic, 01-Apr-1918
Discharged to RAF Reserve Jul-1919
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
