Name
Ernest Alexander Wilkinson
22 September 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Leicestershire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 42 to 44.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead, Not on the St Albans memorials. Skinners School War Memorial, Tunbridge Wells
Pre War
Ernest Alexander Wilkinson (known as Alec) was born on 22 September 1892 in St Albans, the son of Frederick and Annie Wilkinson, and one of eight children. He was baptised on 5 November 1892 at Christ Church, St Albans.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in Elstree Village, nr Barnet, Herts. His father was Clerk to the Missionary Society, an organisation founded in 1799 committed to the abolition of the slave trade, social reform in UK and world evangelisation.
He and his brother Donald were sent to Skinners School in Tunbridge Wells as boarders from 1906.
By 1911 the family were living at Warlingham near Croydon and Alec was in full time education. The family then moved back to Hemel Hempstead and lived at George Street.
Prior to enlistment he worked for Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation Ltd. (an insurance company).
His parents later lived at 60 Bassett Road, Kensington, West London.
Wartime Service
Alec volunteered at the outbreak of war in August 1914, having joined the Territorial Force whilst at university, and enlisted with the 28th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Artists' Rifles), serving as Private No. 1577 but then was selected for officer training and transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, joining them in France on 26 October 1914, where he trained for his commission with the Garwhal Brigade of the Indian Expeditionary Force.
He first saw action at the Battles of La Bassee, followed by Messines and Armentieres in October and November 1914. In 1915 he fought in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle in March and was then promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
He was reported missing in action on 25 September when he was in charge of a platoon of bombers and was last seen leading his men, over the second line German trench when he was hit.
He was subsequently confirmed as killed in action on 25 September 1915, aged 22. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a £5 war gratuity and pay owing of £38 17s 1d. Messrs Cox & Co received pay owing of £5 15s 5d. (they held banking accounts for officers) Brother to William Donald Wilkinson, 2nd Lt , Essex Regiment, who died at the Somme on 14 November 1916. Two other brothers Frederick and Felix fought with the Canadian Army and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.everyoneremembered.org., livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk., www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com.
