Name
Ernest George Wilkinson
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/92534
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
23rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
XVII. F. 9.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints' Church Memorial(s), Hockerill, Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial
Pre War
Ernest George Wilkinson was born in 1898 in Tottenham, Middlesex, the youngest son of Percy Arthur Wilkinson, printer, and Hannah (nee Milton).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Arthur Walter B (born 1894) and Ernest were living at Cunningham Road, Tottenham.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Walter and Ernest were living at 19 Stamford Road, Tottenham. Ernest was a 13 year old schoolboy and his father (who had been born in Bishop's Stortford in 1869) was a Compositor for a Printer. When Ernest enlisted his occupation was given as Engineer’s Turner.
Wartime Service
Ernest initially enlisted on 24 Jul 1916 as Private 29605 or 53248, in 28 (Reserve) Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment, this would become 102 Training Reserve Battalion in Sep 1916, based at Aldershot.
Following his training Ernest was transferred to 2/7th Middlesex Regiment on 10 Apr1917 likely acquiring the serial G/92534. Ernest embarked for Boulogne from Folkestone on 19 Sep 1917. He was then posted to 23rd (Service) Battalion (2nd Football), Middlesex Regiment on 27 Sep 1917 in 41 Division which was sent from France on 15 Nov 1917 and arrived in Italy on 22 Nov 1917 to take over part of the front line on the River Piave, near Treviso. The Battalion returned to France on 8 Mar 1918 arriving at Doullens and Mondicourt where they were soon involved in the Battles of St Quentin 21-23 Mar 1918), Bapaume (24-25 Mar 1918), Arras (28 Mar 1918). The Division was moved to the Ypres Sector, taking part in the Final Advance in Flanders at The Battle of Ypres (28 Sep-2 Oct 1918). Ernest was killed on action on 28 Sep 1918.
A letter in his service record was sent to his mother at 17 London Road, Bishop's Stortford on 27 October 1919, informing her that “it has been found necessary to exhume the bodies in certain areas, and to re-inter them, and the body of your son, the above named soldier, has accordingly been removed and buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, 2 miles due East of Ypres. The new grave has been duly marked with a cross bearing all particulars and registered in this Office. The re-burial has been reverently carried out.”
Additional Information
His mother received a War Gratuity of £9 10s and arrears of £6 17s 3d. She also received a pension of 7 shillings a week from 13 May 1919. His mother's address on pension records is given as 17 London Road, Bishop's Stortford.
Brother Arthur Walter served with 1/7th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment as Private 2796 from 19 Sep 1914 (B E F 18 Mar 1915 – 30 Sep 1915) receiving GSW to neck and waist on 25 Sep 1915 and was medically discharged on 23 Aug 1916.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
