Howitt Key Wilkinson
- Family History
- Military History
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Howitt Key was best known to his family and friends as 'Dick' and was born in 1897 in Scothern Lincolnshire. He was the son of Thomas a farmer who was born in Doddington Lincolnshire and Emma Wilkinson (née Freeborough who was from Bulwell Nottingham. They were married in 1881 at Tendering Essex. Thomas died on 8th January 1903 and Emma in 1931. They had the following children George (b 1883), Kate (b 1885), Frank (b 1886), Tom (b 1888). Nellie (b 1890) and Howitt Key (b1897). In 1891Thomas and his wife are living on the farm at Warsop Nottinghamshire with their first 5 children and are employing six servants both in the house and on the farm. By 1901 the family were living at the Grange in Scothern Thomas, still a farmer, was living with his wife and his six children plus two servants were living at the Grange in Scothern. By 1911 Emma a widow was living alone and on her own means at West Cottage in Lincoln. Howitt was a boarder at Southwell Grammar School aged 13.
Howitt enlisted in Lincoln in October1915 and after initial service with the 11th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment transferred to the 10th Battalion the 'Grimsby Chums'. He served with the British Expeditionary Force from January 1916. He was involved in the fighting on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and was killed in action near La Boiselle . He has no known grave , his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.
De Ruvignys Roll of Honour 1914-1919 gives the following account of his life :- Howitt Key Wilkinson (Dick) Pte 1468 , Trench Mortar Battery 10th (service) battalion Lincolnshire Regiment was the 4th and last son of the late Thomas Wilkinson of Scothern Grange and Cold Hansworth, a farmer and his wife Emma daughter of Charles William Freeborough. Born at Scothern Grange 11th April 1897 , educated at Southwell Collegate school and was subsequently employed in the commercial department in the Lincolnshire Echo and Lincolnshire gazette Times. He enlisted in the 11th Lincolns in October 1915 , transferring to the 10th battalion, served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from January 1916, and was killed in action at the battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916 , he was buried near Albert. Captain Kensington wrote to his mother " We all liked and appreciated him, during the time he was with us " and again writing to his sister " It may be a little consolation to you to know that Dick was held in high esteem in his platoon. We all mourn the death of a brave soldier. As far as I can make out your brother fell close to the German Line, to the right of La Boiselle , near Albert. " Research by Peter Gillings
