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{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=Alfred Robert Wilkinson
|name=Alfred Robert Wilkinson
|birth_date=5 December 1896
|birth_date=5 December 1896
|death_date= 18 October 1940 (aged 43)
|death_date= 18 October 1940 (aged 43)
|birth_place= [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], [[Lancashire]]
|birth_place= [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], [[Lancashire]], England
|death_place= [[Bickershaw Colliery]], Leigh
|death_place= [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], [[Lancashire]], England
|placeofburial=Leigh Borough Cemetery
|placeofburial=Leigh Cemetery
|image= [[Image:AlfredRobertWilkinsonVC.jpg|175px]]
|image= AlfredRobertWilkinsonVC.jpg
|caption=
|caption=
|nickname=
|nickname=
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|serviceyears=
|serviceyears=
|rank=[[Lieutenant]]
|rank=[[Lieutenant]]
|branch=[[Image:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
|commands=
|commands=
|unit=[[Royal Scots Greys]]<br>[[Seaforth Highlanders]]<br>[[Manchester Regiment]]
|unit=[[Royal Scots Greys]]<br>[[Seaforth Highlanders]]<br>[[Manchester Regiment]]
|battles= [[World War I]]
|battles= [[World War I]]
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]]
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]]
|laterwork=
|laterwork=Coal miner
}}
}}
'''Alfred Robert Wilkinson''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (5 December 1896&nbsp;– 18 October 1940),was an [[England|English]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.
'''Alfred Robert Wilkinson''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (5 December 1896&nbsp;– 18 October 1940), was an [[England|English]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.


Wilkinson enlisted in the [[Royal Scots Greys]] at the outbreak of war in 1914 and transferred the following year to the 2nd. Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]]. He finally transferred to the 1/5th Manchester Regiment and went to [[France]] in July 1916.
Wilkinson enlisted in the [[Royal Scots Greys]] at the outbreak of war in 1914 and transferred the following year to the 2nd. Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]]. He finally transferred to the 1/5th Manchester Regiment and went to [[France]] in July 1916.
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He was 21 years old, and a [[private (rank)|private]] in the 1/5th Battalion, [[The Manchester Regiment]], [[British Army]] during the [[Battle of the Selle]] in the [[World War I|First World War]] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
He was 21 years old, and a [[private (rank)|private]] in the 1/5th Battalion, [[The Manchester Regiment]], [[British Army]] during the [[Battle of the Selle]] in the [[World War I|First World War]] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.


On 20 October 1918 at [[Marou]], [[France]], during the attack, four runners had been killed in attempting to deliver a message to the supporting company and Private Wilkinson volunteered for the duty. He succeeded in delivering the message although the journey involved exposure to extremely heavy machine-gun and shell fire for 600&nbsp;yards. He showed magnificent courage and complete indifference to danger and throughout the remainder of the day continued to do splendid work.
On 20 October 1918 at [[Marou, France|Marou]], [[France]], during the attack, four runners had been killed in attempting to deliver a message to the supporting company and Private Wilkinson volunteered for the duty. He succeeded in delivering the message although the journey involved exposure to extremely heavy machine-gun and shell fire for 600&nbsp;yards. He showed magnificent courage and complete indifference to danger and throughout the remainder of the day continued to do splendid work.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31108|supp=y|page=309|date=4 January 1919}}</ref>


He later achieved the rank of [[lieutenant]]. Wilkinson was killed in a [[mining accident]] at [[Bickershaw Colliery]], Leigh where he died from [[carbon monoxide poisoning]].
He later achieved the rank of [[lieutenant]]. Wilkinson was killed in incident in a laboratory at [[Bickershaw Colliery]], Leigh where he died from [[carbon monoxide poisoning]]https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/alfred-robert-wilkinson-vc/.

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[[Image:SelleFighting-Marou.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
His grave stone at Leigh Cemetery has the VC engraved on it. In 2018 it had a trail of poppies leading to it which had been made by local school children.

A statue of Wilkinson has been erected (October 2018) on the green at Pennington Wharf, which is a housing estate at the old Bickershaw Colliery. The road around the green has also been named Wilkinson Park Drive. The road sign is gold in colour and has the VC printed on it.

A mural featuring Wilkinson has been painted on a house on Twist Lane, Leigh, situated between Dorothy Grove and Arthur Street.

<gallery>
⚫
File:SelleFighting-Marou.jpg|
</gallery>

==Bibliography==
⚫
*''[[Monuments to Courage]]'' (David Harvey, 1999)
⚫
*''[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]]'' (This England, 1997)
*{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|title=The Final Days 1918|series=[[VCs of the First World War]]|year=2014|orig-year=2000|publisher=[[The History Press]]|location=[[Stroud]], [[Gloucestershire]]|isbn=978-0-7509-5368-9}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
⚫
*[[Monuments to Courage]] (David Harvey, 1999)
⚫
*[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] (This England, 1997)
*[[VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918]] (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/manchest.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Manchester)''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105456/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/manchest.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Manchester)''
{{Duke of Lancaster's Regiment}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Wilkinson, Alfred Robert
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
⚫
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Recipient of the Victoria Cross
| DATE OF BIRTH = 5 December 1896
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], [[Lancashire]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 18 October 1940
| PLACE OF DEATH = Bickershaw Colliery, Leigh
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkinson, Alfred Robert}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkinson, Alfred Robert}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
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[[Category:Seaforth Highlanders soldiers]]
[[Category:Seaforth Highlanders soldiers]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British coal miners]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Manchester]]

Revision as of 02:43, 1 December 2024

Alfred Robert Wilkinson
Born5 December 1896
Leigh, Lancashire, England
Died18 October 1940 (aged 43)
Leigh, Lancashire, England
Buried
Leigh Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
RankLieutenant
UnitRoyal Scots Greys
Seaforth Highlanders
Manchester Regiment
Battles / warsWorld War I
AwardsVictoria Cross
Other workCoal miner

Alfred Robert Wilkinson VC (5 December 1896 – 18 October 1940), was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Wilkinson enlisted in the Royal Scots Greys at the outbreak of war in 1914 and transferred the following year to the 2nd. Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. He finally transferred to the 1/5th Manchester Regiment and went to France in July 1916.

He was 21 years old, and a private in the 1/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, British Army during the Battle of the Selle in the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 October 1918 at Marou, France, during the attack, four runners had been killed in attempting to deliver a message to the supporting company and Private Wilkinson volunteered for the duty. He succeeded in delivering the message although the journey involved exposure to extremely heavy machine-gun and shell fire for 600 yards. He showed magnificent courage and complete indifference to danger and throughout the remainder of the day continued to do splendid work.[1]

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant. Wilkinson was killed in incident in a laboratory at Bickershaw Colliery, Leigh where he died from carbon monoxide poisoninghttps://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/alfred-robert-wilkinson-vc/.

His grave stone at Leigh Cemetery has the VC engraved on it. In 2018 it had a trail of poppies leading to it which had been made by local school children.

A statue of Wilkinson has been erected (October 2018) on the green at Pennington Wharf, which is a housing estate at the old Bickershaw Colliery. The road around the green has also been named Wilkinson Park Drive. The road sign is gold in colour and has the VC printed on it.

A mural featuring Wilkinson has been painted on a house on Twist Lane, Leigh, situated between Dorothy Grove and Arthur Street.

Bibliography

  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
  • Gliddon, Gerald (2014) [2000]. The Final Days 1918. VCs of the First World War. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-5368-9.

References

  1. ^ "No. 31108". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 January 1919. p. 309.
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