Vincent Wilkinson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Vincent was born on 26th October 1888 at Radford and was the son of Hannah Maria Wilkinson of 55 St Peter's Street, Radford. His father had died prior to Vincent enlisting in the Grenadier Guards on 8 June 1909. He had a brother, Frank born in 1883 At the time of the 1911 census (Military Schedule) he was in Hartley Witney, Hampshire at Blenheim barracks and shown as a private soldier, 21 yrs old. In the same 1911 census his widowed mother was living at 55a St Peters Street, Radford she was 52 yrs of age and worked as a hosiery seamer. Also in the household was her son Frank 28 yrs, a coal miner. The WW1 Pension Ledgers record names his mother of 9 St Pauls Street, Old Radford, Nottingham, as his dependant
Vincent enlisted in the Grenadier Guards on 8 June 1909 on a short service engagement (3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve) at the age of 19 years 8 months and joined at Caterham on 11 June. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 8 June 1912 and was mobilized 5 August 1914. He was appointed acting lance corporal on 24 November 1915, reverting to private on 26 November 1915. Vincent was killed in action on the Somme, France. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour, 23 October 1916: 'Wilkinson. Killed in action September 15th 1916, Private Vincent Wilkinson, Grenadier Guards, aged 27 years. Silently mourned. Loving mother and brother.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) He is listed in the Nottinghamshire County Council Register of Employees who served in the war (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref CC CL 2/12/1/1)
