The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Pte W Copeland


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Private Wilson COPELAND, 205918, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

Enlisted 12th November 1914, Gateshead-on-Tyne, Durham Light Infantry Service Nos, 2138 & 251013, age 21, height 5ft 3 inches, resided Sheriff Hill House, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead-on-Tyne. Formerly coal miner.

12th November 1914, enlisted Gateshead and posted to 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry; 16th August 1915, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal; 23rd October 1915, transferred to 1/9th, Durham Light Infantry; 4th January 1916, deprived of Lance stripe; 20th October 1916, posted Depot, Durham Light Infantry, & transferred to 5th Battalion, Reserves; 23rd December 1916, posted In Base Depot 35th; 27th December 1916, posted 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry; 28th August 1918, transferred to Royal West Kent Regiment and posted to 6th Battalion; 21st September 1918, wounded, gun shot wound, right arm and shoulder; 1st October 1918, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 29th November 1918, Fort Darland, whilst on active service overstaying his furlough from Tattoo until reporting himself in Camp at 9.00pm 3rd December 1918, deprived of 5 days pay, forfeits 5 days pay; 30th November 1918, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

15th March 1919, discharged  as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to wounds. Silver War Badge issued

10th October 1919, Medical Report, Newcastle on Tyne. Disability, gun shot wound, right arm and shoulder. He states that while advancing on 21st September 1918, at Epehy, France, he was wounded in the right arm with shrapnel and sent to 10th General Hospital in Rouen, there about a fortnight. Then to UK. Admitted 1st October 1918, to 1st Scottish General Hospital, Aberdeen and discharged 20th November 1918. He states that after this he was 3 weeks in Convalescent Hospital then 2 weeks in 1st Scottish General Hospital, then after that leave and back to Depot. He complains of weakness in the arm and that at times when working he gets pain in it. Present condition, I find over the outer surface of the right upper arm extending from 3" below the ?????? a 6" scar healed non adherent tender. At points where it has been stitched it extends to 3.5" in width. Over the tip of the ?????? there are two other scars one above the other 1" by 0.5" healed non adherent tender. There is a considerable loss of tissue in the region of the large wound. There is much wasting of the ???? and slight wasting of the ??? triceps. All movements of limb are free, but much weaker than normal. There is no evidence of injury to the bone or nerve. Operation at Rouen about 24th September 1918 to clean wound and another about 14th October 1918, Aberdeen to clean and stitch up wound. 40% disability.


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