7th Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment

19499 William Thomas Wheeler DAVIS

William was born in 1898 the son of Thomas and Christina.  He is listed in the 1901 Census living in East Sands and in 1911 at 83 High Street, Burbage with his 2 sisters and brother.

It’s not clear when he joined up but his medal card shows he served wth the 7th Battalion in France & Flanders from 21 September 1915. 

13024 Tom GILLETT

Tom was born in Erchfont  near Devizes in 1892.  Son of Thomas, a carter on a farm, and Carry, he was living at Knowle in Erchfont during the 1901 Census, with his 4 sisters.  Ten years later, at the time of the Census, he was living at the Hollow in Burbage as a border at the house of Charles and Sarah Hawkins and working as a farm labourer.

Tom was attested at Devizes on 8^th September 1914.  His papers show that he was initially given the regimental number 13024 on joining the Wiltshire Regiment.  However, a week later he transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers with regimental number 14906.  He was one of several to join the Royal Dublin Fusiliers at about the same time, including Frank Wort, also of Burbage with regimental number 14907!  See his entry on the Royal Dublin Fusiliers page for more detail.