England man finds ancestor’s grave in Secunderabad
HYDERABAD: A 19 year long search led an England resident to a British era grave in Secunderabad on February 16.
Robin Dixon travelled from England to pay tribute at the grave of his great-great-grandfather, Charles Wilson, who served in the British Indian Army and died in Secunderabad more than 130 years ago.
Grave located in Tirumalagiri cemetery
Wilson worked as a lieutenant in the transport department of the Secunderabad regiment. He died on August 4, 1906, at the age of 48 while undergoing treatment at the station hospital in Tirumalagiri. He was buried at Cemetery-12 in Tirumalagiri.
Dixon said old family records found at his home in England revealed that his ancestor had worked and died in India. However, the family did not know whether he was buried in Bengaluru, Madras (now Chennai) or Secunderabad.
With the help of journalist Ravi Reddy, Dixon located the grave eight months ago. He travelled to Hyderabad with his wife Lyn and placed a white rose on Wilson’s grave.
“I have waited years for this moment,” Dixon said.
Who was Charles Wilson?
Charles Wilson was born in 1858 in Weaverton village, England. He joined the British Army in 1880 and later served in Bengaluru and Madras before being posted to Secunderabad.
Within a year of Wilson’s death, his wife Harry Yate returned to England with their four children. Though the family preserved documents related to Wilson, they were unable to trace his burial site until now.
Dixon expressed gratitude to Ravi Reddy for helping the family identify the grave.
