WILFRID HOWARD MASON
Born: 3rd April 1884, Ipswich.
Died: 9th March 1917; age 34; KiA at the crossing of the Dialah River, in Mesopotamia.
Residence:‘Choisy’ Probus, Cornwall.
Occupation: After qualifying as a Mining Engineer, he was for some years in Egypt, India, South Africa and Mauritius.
Returned home at the outbreak of war and joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps, 18835. Out of which he obtained his commission in the Royal Engineers, in June 1915.
Rank: Second Lieutenant; Service Number: 3673
Regiment: Royal Engineers, 72nd Field Coy.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Grave Reference:
XX.G.13.
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery,
Iraq.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of George Calver & Letitia Maria Mason, of Ipswich; Husband of Gladys Mason of ‘Choisy’ Probus, Cornwall.
Brother to KENNETH RALPH MASON.
CENSUS
1891 Lonsdale House, Belstead Road, Ipswich.
Wilfrid was 7 years old and living with parents & siblings.
George Calver Mason, 48, a Seed Crusher (oil cake merchant) & Paper Manufacturer – employer, born Ipswich.
Letitia Maria Mason (nee Williams), 46, born London.
Catherine May Grace Mason, 22, Mother’s Help, born Ipswich.
George Godson Mason, 21, a Merchant’s Clerk – Coals, born Ipswich.
Harold Percy Mason, 19, a Student of Law, born Ipswich.
Mabel Constance Mason, 17, born Ipswich.
Oswald Hugh Mason, 13, born Ipswich.
Malcolm Forty Mason, 11, born Ipswich.
Theodore Septimus Mason, 9, born Ipswich.
Kenneth Ralph Mason, 2, born Ipswich.
1 governess
1 cook
1 nurse &
2 housemaids.
1901 Ipswich School, Henley Road, Ipswich.
Wilfrid was 16 years old, a Student.
Wilfrid’s father, George Calver Mason, died August 1905, Broadwater, Belstead Road, Ipswich. His mother, Leticia Maria Mason died, March 1917, ‘Trerose’, Felixstowe, Suffolk.
Wilfrid was educated at Ipswich School – entered 1896 and left 1902. He obtained his Football Colours, proving a sterling back during more then one season. Afterwards proceeded to the Mining School at Cranborne.
On the 9th December 1912, Wilfrid married Gladys Teague, born 1882, Carn Brea, Cornwall, of ‘Trevenson’ Carn Brea, fouth daughter of the late Captain W. Teague.
They had 1 son:
Dennis Howard Mason, born February 1916, Bracknell, Berkshire. Baptised: March 1917 at Deganwy, Carnavon.
Soldiers’ Effects to Harold Percy Mason Esq. & Oswald Hugh Mason Esq. – brothers.
Probate to Harold Percy Mason, a solicitor & Oswald Hugh Mason, a gentleman – brothers.
Wilfrid is also remembered on the Chapel war memorial at Ipswich School, and at Felixstowe, Suffolk, and the Cranborne Mining School memorial, St. Martin & St. Meriodoc Church, Cornwall, and on his parents headstone at St. Mary’s Church, Belstead, Suffolk.
Wilfrid’s paternal grandfather, George Mason
was Mayor of Ipswich 1875 – 1876.
(1930 image of the North Lancashire Regiment memorial at Dialah)
Suffolk and Essex Free Press – Wednesday, 18th April 1917 – SECOND LIEUT. W. H. MASON – Second Lieutenant Wilfrid Howard Mason, R.E., who was killed on the 9th March, aged 32, was the eighth son of the late G. Calver and Mrs. Mason, of Broadwater, Ipswich. He was educated at Ipswich School and at the Mining School, Camborne, and after qualifying as a mining engineer, was some years in Egypt, India, South Africa, and Mauritius. At the outbreak of war he came home and joined the Inns of Court O.T.C., from which he obtained his commission in the Royal Engineers, in June 1915. In 1912 he married Gladys, fourth daughter of the late Captain W. Teague, of Trevenson, Carn Brea, Cornwall, who with a son survives him.
Fellow Ipswich man lost in the action: CLAUDE DAWSON HEMPSON
The River Dialah, a tributary of the Tigris. Armed with artillery and well dug in, the Turks held a formidable defensive position. On 7th March 1917 the 6th Battalion KORLR seized Dialah village on the left bank of the river, but received Turkish fire from the left bank. In an attempt to cross the river, the Battalion launched pontoons, but were driven back. The operation cost 40 casualties. A battalion of the North Lancashire Regiment completed the crossing early on the 10th March.
The 13th Division of the British Army was now able to advance on Baghdad.
Captain O.A.Reid, 6th Loyal North Lancs and Pte Jack White, 6th Kings Own received the Victory Cross for the action.
Royal Engineers, 72nd Field Coy
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