2nd Lieutenant, Reginald Connor Phillips WILDER
Aged 19
Reginald Connor Phillips Wilder was born in 1896 in Great Bradley (Risbridge Q1-1895 4A:733), baptised in Great Bradley on 24th March 1896, son of Reverend
William Burnard Chichester and Mabel Elizabeth WILDER (née GROVE).
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at The Rectory, Great Bradley with his father William Bernard WILDER [34] C of E priest born Barnardiston, his mother Mabel Elizabeth [28] born St.Ives, Hunts; brothers William Eric [6] and Bernard Leslie [2] 1911 census...Aged 15 he was a pupil at Walthamstow College. His parents were still at the Rectory, Great Bradley His father and three uncles had followed one another as rector at St Mary's Church for 74 successive years. The Wilder service to the Church of St. Mary, Great Bradley was as follows 1869...J.T.Wilder M.A. 1870...McM.Charles.G.Wilder.LLB on JT Wilder's resignation 1881...J.T.Wilder M.A. on death of last Rector 1892...W.B.C.Wilder M.A. on the death of the last Rector Trustees of the late Rev J.McM.Wilder 1932-1942..P.H.E.Wilder B.A. on the death of the last Rector. From his father's diary :- 29-11-1914 : On Monday, November 23. A telegram from War Office announcing the death of my 2nd son. Rex C.P. killed in action Nov. 19 1914,"R.I.P." Held a Memorial Service for the poor old fellow at 3 p.m. on the afternoon of the 29th. Church more than full. Service conducted by Rev. B. Fleming. |
His entry in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour reads : WILDER, REGINALD CONNOR PHILLIPS, 2nd.Lieut.,2nd Battn.(12th Foot) The Suffolk Regt., 2nd s. of the Rev.W.B.C.Wilder; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders,and was killed in action there 19.Nov.1914. It was reported that he was shot by a sniper. He was found as shown below, buried in Lindenhoek-Wulvergen Military Cemetery but his grave was later lost, hence he has a memorial cross in the cemetery (1919) but is named on the Menin Gate. |
During the week March 21-28 1920, the stained glass East End window and stone work were inserted to the memory of Reginald. photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details