Name
Douglas Barker Wilkin
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1917
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31913
Essex Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 98 to 99.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Letchworth Garden City memorials (*1), Memorial Cross, South Benfleet, Essex
Pre War
Douglas Barker Wilkin was born in 1892 West Hampstead, London to Joseph B Wilkin, and Annie M (nee Barker).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Sidney Albert (born 1888) and Douglas were living at 1, Sumatra Road, Hampstead.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Sidney (bank clerk), and Douglas were living at 7, Hillcrest Road, South Woodford, Essex.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Douglas. He was enlisted, probably in 1916, in the Essex Regiment as Private 31913 and went to France joining the Battalion. He may have served during the Battles of Arras (1917) at 1st Scarpe (9-14 Apr), 2nd Scarpe (23-24 Apr), 3rd Scarpe (3-4 May). The Division was moved to the Ypres Sector to take part in the Battles of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) at Langemarck (16-18 Aug 1917). It was shortly after this Battle that Douglas was reported as Killed in Action on 23 Aug 1917. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £4 17s 8d was paid to his Joseph. Brother Sidney served with 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment Serial G/34260 and survived the Great War.
Douglas is also commemorated on his family’s grave in Letchworth Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF DOUGLAS BELOVED SON OF THE ABOVE [JOSEPH B WILKIN]
KILLED IN ACTION AT YPRES, AUGUST 23RD. 1917, AGED 25 YEARS
AT REST
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
