Name
Cecil Charles Palmer Wilkin(*1)
21/12/1900
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/10/1918
17
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Air Mechanic 3rd Class
304551
Royal Air Force
Recruits Depot (Blandford)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
No medals Issued - Home Service Only
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALDBURY (ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has an inscription on the family grave Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldbury, Aldbury Peace Memorial Institute Memorial, Aldbury, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Pre War
Cecil Charles Palmer Wilkin was born on 21st December 1900, in Great Dunmow, Essex, son of Charles Palmer Wilkin a Domestic Butler and Annie Wilkin (nee Watts). The eldest of their two children. His parents were married on 7th June 1899, at Holy Trinity Church, Kilburn, Middx.
Cecil was Baptised on 3rd March 1901, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, Essex.
1901 Census, records Cecil aged 3 months, visiting his grandmother Mary Ann Watts with his mother Annie, at Church End, Great Dunmow, Essex.
1911 Census, Cecil aged 10, is at school, living with his parents, and sister Beatrice (4), at The Gamekeepers Cottage, Aldbury, Herts, his father is recorded as a Domestic Butler.
Wartime Service
Cecil enlisted on 4th October 1918, in the Royal Air Force, aged 17, as an Air Mechanic, 3rd Class, issued with the service No. 304551, and posted to the Recruits Depot, Blanford Camp, Blandford, Dorsetshire.
He died on 24th October 1918, aged 17, (CWGC state died of Pneumonia), he is buried in St John the Baptist Churchyard, Aldbury, Herts. It is possible he died of Influenza as an outbreak of influenza was reported at the camp on 21st October 1918, at the time there were 15,000, persons in the camp, due to the close proximity of personal it spread quickly, the outbreak was so bad that questions were asked in Parliament on 30th October 1918, the outbreak had subsided by the end of November 1918.
Additional Information
His effects of £3-18s-09d, pay owing went to his father Charles Wilkin, he was not entitled to a war gratuity and not eligible for a war medal as he did not serve overseas.
*1 We believe to be the man that appears as C Wilkins on the John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley.
Cecil’s headstone (not CWGC) inscription reads:
“In loving memory of Cecil.
THE ONLY BELOVED SON OF CHARLES AND ANNIE WILKIN. WHO DIED OCTOBER 24TH 1918. IN HIS 18TH YEAR.
THE CUP WAS BITTER THE STING SEVERE.
TO PART WITH HIM WE LOVE SO DEAR.
THE TRIAL IS HARD BUT WILL NOT COMPLAIN.
BUT TRUST IN CHRIST TO MEET AGAIN.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
