Name
Charles Frederick Wilkins
4 August 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/10/1914
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
2699
Rifle Brigade
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, Sunnyside Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Charles Frederick Wilkins was born on 4 August 1887 in Greyfriars, Reading, Berkshire, the son of Charles and Eleanor Wilkins and one of nine children, although one died in infancy. He was baptised on 19 June 1894 at St Mary's Church, Reading.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 18 Coley Place, Reading, where his father was working as a bread maker. By 1901 they had moved to 5 Dover Street, Reading, and his father was working in a biscuit factory. They had moved to Sunnyside, Berkhamsted by 1911 and were living at 47 George Street, Sunnyside.
At the age of 18 he enlisted in Reading in 1908 and joined the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. His occupation on enlistment was given as general labourer. His service began on 24 February 1908, and he joined the Brigade in Winchester on 28 February 1908, being posted to 3rd Battalion.
The Brigade was stationed in Cork and he married Bridget Flood in 15 November 1912 (pos. 1913) at the Register Office, Cork, Ireland and they had a son, Charles Frederick James born on 9 June 1915.
His widow later lived at 77 Ellesmere Road, Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
Charles was a serving soldier at the outbreak of war, having enlisted in Reading. He joined the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
He served in France from 10 September 1914. (according to medal index cards) and was killed in action on 21 October 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres.
Charles has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow Bridget received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £7 14s 8d. She also received a pension of 10 shillings a week, later increased to 15 shillings.
Bridget later remarried to Sgt Thomas Byrne and received a re-marriage gratuity of £50 1s 5d.
Brother to Leonard Wilkins who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was killed in action on 9 April 1917 and who is also named on the Sunnyside Memorial, Berkhamsted.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
