Main CPGW Record
Surname: WILKINSON
Forename(s): Edmund
Place of Birth: Bradford, Yorkshire
Service No: 2207
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 'A' Coy 1/7th Battalion. (Leeds Rifles)
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 31
Date of Death: 1915-12-08
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: I. E. 9.
CWGC Cemetery: ESSEX FARM CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Edmund Wilkinson was the son of Caleb and Agnes Ann Wilkinson, formerly Townsley, née Seed. Caleb was born at Lothersdale and Agnes at Bradford, Yorkshire.
1891 Bradford, Yorkshire Census: 687, Bolton Road - Edmund Wilkinson, aged 7 years, born Bradford, son of Caleb and Alice [sic] Wilkinson. [Caleb Wilkinson and Agnes Ann Townsley were married in 1883. They had both been married previously and were recorded as living together in the 1881 Bradford, Yorkshire Census.]
1901 Sutton-inCraven, Yorkshire Census: 26, Main Street, Sutton Mill - Edmund Wilkinson, aged 17 years, born Bradford, Yorkshire, son of Agnes A. Wilkinson, widow.
Edmund was married to Alice Archer Sagar in 1906.
1911 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: Bent - Edmund Wilkinson, aged 27 years, born Bradford, Yorkshire, husband of Alice Archer Wilkinson.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Edmund Wilkinson, 2207, W. York. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 15.4.15. K. in A.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Edmund Wilkinson, 2207, 7th W. Yks. Killed in Action 8.12.15.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Edmund Wilkinson, 2207, 1/7 W. Yorks. Regt. Date and Place of Death: 8.12.15. In action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Alice A. £7 12s. 3d. Self and children.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Edmund. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Alice Archer Wilkinson, born 18.3.86. Address 1. The Bent, Sutton in Craven, Yorks. Address 2. 6, King's Court, Sutton in Craven, Keighley. Children: Allan, born 11.8.10. Nellie, born 9.7.14.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
WILKINSON, Edmund, 1st 8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles), of Bent, Sutton, killed in action, France, Dec. 1915.
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Private Edmund WILKINSON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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Essex Farm Cemetery
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium
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View Craven Herald Articles
24 December 1915
SUTTON SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION
News was received last week by Mrs. Edmund Wilkinson, of Sutton, of the death of her husband in France. Prior to enlistment in the 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment, Pte. Wilkinson carried on business as oat-bread baker, and was well known in the Sutton district. He was of a very genial disposition, and much sympathy is felt for his widow and two young children. Mrs. Wilkinson has received the following letter from the officer commanding: –
1/7 West Yorkshire Regt., B.E.F., December 10th, 1915
“Madam, I expect by the time you receive this letter you will have heard officially from the War Office of the death of your husband. I am writing to express my sympathy with you in your great loss. We were in the front line trench at the time, and were being heavily bombarded. Your husband was hit by a shell and killed instantly. Any personal belongings will be forwarded to you by the authorities, but I took the enclosed 10 francs from his pocket. I knew your husband at Saltfleet and much regret we have lost such a good soldier and willing worker. I trust the fact that he has given his life in this great cause will be some little consolation to you. Yours very sincerely, W. J. TODD, O.C., ‘A’ Co.”
13 October 1916
SUTTON – THE ROLL OF HONOUR
Writing in the Parish Magazine on the war, the Vicar of Sutton (Rev. A.R. Light) gives a list of men from the Parish of Sutton, who have fallen in defence of their country as follows:–Arnold Healey, Walter Haggas, Lyall Taylor, Edmund Wilkinson, Norman Riley, Nelson W. Petty, Richard Whitehall, Albert Wm. Tune, Frederick W. Thompson, Henry Taylor, Joseph G. Bancroft, Cedric Fawcett Horsfall.
Mr. Light also says: “I have not in the Magazine mentioned by name those from this place who have given their lives for their country, not because I have forgotten such promising young men as Henry Taylor, and others whose names hang in the Church porch, and, indeed, as I write this, I fear lest it may even be dimly thought that one may seem to be valued more than another. All who are fighting are equally dear to God, and it is also true to say that both rich and poor are giving their best, offering on an altar watered with tears those whose lives are so much to them. All those boys who formed our first patrol of Scouts have almost gone to the front, and only last week we heard of Reginald Ellison being wounded, but we hope his life will yet be spared.
To every mother whose heart aches with anxiety or for actual loss, I offer most true sympathy, whether such are connected with us in the worship of Sutton Church or not, and one cannot help feeling in such times as these that religious differences are not, and cannot be again, as great and as dividing as they have seemed in the past, and that all are one family of God. May each one of these, who will never enter into our lives here again, rest in peace.”
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
24 December 1915
SUTTON SOLDIER’S DEATH AT THE FRONT
The rejoicings in the village in the honour which had come through one of its lads being the first in the district to gain the honour of winning the D.C.M. have been somewhat checked by the news that Private Edmund Wilkinson of the 1/8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) has been killed at the Front. Pte. Ned Wilkinson (as he was best known) was a pal with Corporal Edgar Green, D.C.M., who in his letters home generally referred to Ned as being all right. The sad news was received on Thursday last by his wife, who resides at the Bent, Sutton, through her husband’s commanding officer. Private Wilkinson had been in France some months, and was for some time up to his death officer’s cook. Prior to entering the Army he was in business as oat-bread baker. He leaves a widow and two young children.
24 December 1915
CRAVEN’S ROLL OF HONOUR – GLUSBURN
Pte. Edmund Wilkinson, 1st 8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles), who resided with his wife at the Bent, Sutton. He was killed in France last week. Prior to enlisting he was an oat-bread baker at Sutton.
10 November 1916
SUTTON – MEMORIAL SERVICE AND CHURCH PARADE
On Sunday morning a memorial service to those who had fallen during the war from Sutton parish was held in St. Thomas’s Church, conducted by Rev. A.R. Light (vicar). About 60 members of the local Volunteer Corps were present, having met in the Friendly Societies’ Hall yard, under the leadership of Commander Clough. Special lessons were read and special psalms were sung. ‘O rest in the Lord’ was given on the organ by Mr. A.E. Foulds. The Vicar asked the congregation to offer prayers for the souls of those who had fallen. The following names were read out:– Privates Arnold Healey, F.W. Thompson, Walter Haggas, J.G. Bancroft, Evelyn Fisher, Tom Summerskill, Norman Riley, Henry Taylor, Lyall Taylor, R. Whitehall, E. Wilkinson, A.W. Tune, Lieut. Nelson Petty, and Capt. C.F. Horsfall.
The text from which the very sympathetic discourse was preached was 2nd Samuel, 1., 26, David’s lamentation over the death of his friend Jonathan. At the close of the very impressive service Chopin’s ‘Funeral March’ was given on the organ. At the close of the evening service, which was again conducted by the Vicar, the ‘Dead March’ in ‘Saul’ was played, and the National Anthem sung.
03 August 1917
SUTTON
DEDICATION OF ROLL OF HONOUR – A special service, reverent and very beautiful throughout, the dedication of the roll of honour, was conducted in St. Thomas’s Church on Sunday evening last by the vicar, Rev. A. R. Light. The roll of honour is a triptych, the top panel, a beautiful inlet picture representing ‘The Great Sacrifice.’ It contains the names of the fallen heroes, viz., Arnold Healey, F.W. Thompson, Norman Riley, Lyall Taylor, J.G. Bancroft, E. Wilkinson, Nelson Petty, W. Haggas, G. Sanderson, R. Whitehall, W. Hargreaves, T. Summerskill, A.W. Tune, C.F. Horsfall, Lewis Binns,Albert Binns, E. Fisher, and W. Blake Spencer. The left panel represents ‘The White Comrade,’ and the right ‘The watch on many waters,’ in very artistic colours. The large centre space contains the names of all who were residents in the Sutton parish and are still serving their King and country. The sermon was from the text, “Through God we shall do valiantly.” The large congregation left the church to the strains of the French National Anthem.
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