Harry Wilkins
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harry was born in 1890 in Southwell and was the son of Frank a dairyman and Martha Elizabeth Wilkins, of 41, King St., Southwell. His father Frank was born in 1852 in Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire and his mother Martha Elizabeth Croxall was born in 1854 in Doncaster, they were married in 1886 their marriage was recorded in the Doncaster Registration district, they had 3 children, however one sadly died in infancy their other child was a son Arthur Leslie b1887 Southwell. By the 1911 census the family are living at King Street Southwell and are shown as Frank 52 yrs a dairyman, he is living with his wife Martha 57 yrs and their son Leslie 24 yrs and single and assisting his father in his business. In the 1911 census Harry has left home and joined the army he is shown as being 22 yrs and single and is with his battalion 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters in barracks in India.
Private Harry Wilkins, enlisted at Southwell and served with the 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He landed in France on 4th November 1914 and was killed in action on 11th March 1915. His name is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
His brother Arthur Leslie Wilkins committed suicide The inquest held on 27th March 1917 into the death of Arthur Leslie Wilkins, a 30 year-old who helped on his father's diary farm, concluded that he had taken his own life. Said to be depressed at having been rejected for military service, the second anniversary of his brother's death in action had taken place earlier in the month, the report published on 28th March 1917 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- “SUICIDE BECAUSE OF REJECTION. “A verdict of Suicide during Temporary Insanity was returned at the inquest at Southwell, yesterday, [27th March 1917] on Arthur Leslie Wilkins (30), whose body was recovered from the Greet on Sunday morning. [25th March 1917] Deceased had become depressed in consequence of not being able to join the Army, he having been rejected.” Above report is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
No Photos