Husband of Mabel Cooke (1878-1969) married 14 June 1912. They had one son James Bruce Wilson (1913-1989)
He was born at Cumberland Street, Dunedin 14 March 1882, the third son of James Campbell Wilson and Annie Paterson Wilson, nee McLennan who had migrated from Glasgow, Scotland in 1879.
He volunteered for service despite having a wife and young son.
Served from 9 June 1916 to 27 February 1919, with foreign service 26 June 1916 to 7 January 1919 total 2 years and 264 days.
He was a Freemason and was Secretary of the "NZ Expeditionary Forces in Palestine & Egypt Masonic Association". On 6 April 1918 they held a meeting at the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem, the supposed site of Solomon's Temple, a place of great significance to Freemasons. A photograph was published later in a booklet of the occasion.
A Presbyterian Minister he trained for the Ministry at the Hall, Dunedin 1909-1911. Served at Weston 1912, Waimate 1919 and then St Andrews, New Plymouth from 1926-1945. There was some controversy in the 1990's at St Andrews, the minister wanted to rededicate the church as the foundation stone c1934 with Wilson's name on it said "laid with Masonic ceremony".
Name spelled incorrectly as McLellan on the Nominal Roll
War service: England, Egypt
Reported and attached to 14th Reinforcements as Presbyterian Chaplain, 10 June 1916.
Reported to No 1 Camp, and attached to Canterbury Company for rations, 24 August 1916.
Attached to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 20 November 1916.
Proceeded overseas to Egypt, 30 November 1916; taken on strength, NZ Mounted Rifles Training Unit and Depot, Cairo, 12 January 1917.
Attached for duty to NZ Mounted Rifles Field Ambulance, 31 March 1917.
On detachment, Desert Mounted Corps Rest Camp, Port Said, 10 August 1917; rejoined unit from detachment, 20 August 1917.
[Service in Salonika? one mention on file, but no details recorded.]
Admitted to 4th Stationary Hospital, Kantara, 23 August 1918 (malaria: slight); discharged to Rest Camp, Cairo, 31 August 1918; discharged to duty, 5 September 1918.
Admitted to 36th Stationary Hospital, Alexandria, 17 October 1918 (malaria); transferred to hospital, Ras el Tin, 2 November 1918.
Commenced return to New Zealand from Suez on board HT 'Malta', 14 December 1918 (on duty); discharged, 27 February 1919.
War service: 2 years 264 days (of which 2 years 196 days were abroad) AWMM