Name
Leonard Wilkins
23 July 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
782345
Canadian Infantry
49th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, Sunnyside Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Leonard Wilkins was born on 23 July 1891 in 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 1901 Census the family were living at 5 Dover Street, Reading, Berkshire where his father was working in a biscuit factory. They had moved to Sunnyside, Berkhamsted by 1911 and were living at 47 George Street, Sunnyside. Leonard was then working as a bread and baker journeyman.
He emigrated to Canada but his parents remained in Berkhamsted, living at 77 Ellesmere Road in 1915.
Wartime Service
At the time of enlistment in Moose Jaw, on 4 April 1916, Leonard was living in Mawer, Saskatchewan, Canada and working as a farmer. He had served for three years with the RFA (Territorial Force) in England.
He joined the 128th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force which sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 15 August 1916 and arrived at Liverpool, England, on 24 August 1916. He was transferred to the 49th Battalion before being sent to France and landed there on 6 December 1916.
He was killed in action on 9 April 1917 during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, France.
Additional Information
Brother to Charles Frederick Williams who was killed in action on 21 October 1914 and who is also named on the Sunnyside Memorial, Berkhamsted.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.bac-lac.gc.ca
