Main CPGW Record
Surname: WILKINSON
Forename(s): Frank
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: 8121
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 2nd Battalion
Division: 5th Division
Age: 27
Date of Death: 1914-11-11
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Addenda Panel 58.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Frank Wilkinson was son of Elizabeth Wilkinson (born Dalton, Lancashire) and the nephew and adopted son of William Henry and Margaret Jane Dalby, née Wilkinson. He was the grandson of Frank and Annie Wilkinson. Frank, senior, was born at Bentham, Yorkshire and Annie at Larne (Kilwaughter?), Co. Antrim, Ireland.
1891 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 11, Back Water Street - Frank Wilkinson, aged 3 years, born Skipton, stepson of Edward and [grandson of] Annie Burns. [Also living at the same address were Annie's daughters Elizabeth and Margaret Wilkinson.]
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 11, Cavendish Street - Frank Wilkinson, aged 13 years, born Skipton. [Frank was living with his uncle and aunt, William Henry and Margaret Jane Dalby, née Wilkinson.]
The British Army Service Record for Frank Wilkinson exists but may be incomplete. [Elizabeth, Frank's mother, is named in his Army Record and her address is given as 6, Crown Place, Leith, Scotland.]
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Frank Wilkinson, 8121, 2nd West Riding Regiment. Theatre of War first served in: [1 - France]. Date of entry therein: 14 August 1914.
Frank is commemorated on the Midland Railway War Memorial at Derby.
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, Frank, 1st Duke of Wellington’s, killed in action Dec., 1914.
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Private Frank WILKINSON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 5th Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
30 October 1914
NEWS FROM THE FIRING LINE
Mr. W. H. Dalby, coal merchant, of Cavendish Street, Skipton, has received two letters from his nephew, Pte. Frank Wilkinson, of the West Ridings, who has taken part in the whole of the fighting in which the regiment has so far been engaged. Neither communication gives any clue as to his whereabouts. The first, which is dated October 17th, stated that he was in the pink of health, but awaiting a change of clothing, which he heard was being sent for him. “it has not arrived yet.” he adds, “and will be glad when it does, because we are all ‘Itchy Koo’ as the troops say.
25 December 1914
THE ROLL OF HONOUR – Another Skiptonian Missing
Yet another Skipton home has been plunged into gloom at news received from the front, but in this case the cloud has been brightened by the silver lining of hope. The news relates to Frank Wilkinson, the nephew and adopted son of Mr. W.H. Dalby, coal merchant, Cavendish Street. The first message was of the darkest description, being in the form of a postcard from Pte. O. Dodgson, of the 2nd Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, Expeditionary Force, dated Dec. 4th. After dealing with private matters the writer says, “If you have not heard about Frank I will tell you. He got killed. But don’t let it worry you as he was doing his duty.” Dodgson adds, “I am hoping for the best and to have a couple of weeks with you when the war is over.” Mrs. Dalby wrote to the War Office for confirmation of the report.
The official reply stated that Wilkinson had been reported as missing on November 11th, and it was accompanied by a notification that the term, ‘missing’ does not necessarily mean that the soldier is killed or wounded. He may be an unwounded prisoner or temporarily separated from his regiment.’
Upon return home from the front Wilkinson was to have been married. The last communication received from him was a postcard dated November 9th, in which he stated that he was well.
Wilkinson was a Reservist, and amongst his possessions was a certificate signed by C.V. Humphreys, the Lieut.-Col. Commanding the 1st Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, to the effect that he had taken part in an infantry display at the Coronation Durbar, Delhi, 1911.
Mrs. Dalby has a boy at Doncaster who is in training, and writing from France on October 1st, Wilkinson hoped that the lad was alright. “I don’t suppose he has seen any Germans,” he said. “Tell him it is nothing patent out here. I saw a German last week with his leg about 20 yards from his body. . . . The Germans retired from where we are now. As they were going through this village, our artillery shelled them. They gave 35 rounds from one battery–that’s six guns, and God only knows how many batteries were fired. But a few hours afterward about 200 refugees men went with picks and shovels to bury the dead–800. So you see how long it will last at that. I don’t know.”
In a letter dated November 8th, he states that he was “still in the pink,” and concludes, “It has been Hell here this last few days.”
Wilkinson enlisted from Skipton ten years ago, and saw seven years’ service in India, returning to England two years ago. Wilkinson left shortly afterwards for Canada, being recalled by the Military authorities upon the outbreak of war.
10 November 1916
WILKINSON – In loving memory of our dear nephew, Pte. Frank Wilkinson, 8121, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Reported missing November 11th, 1914; since reported killed.
Still in our hearts we mourn
The loss of one we loved so well.
From Mr. and Mrs. Dalby and Family. 13, Cavendish Street, Skipton.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
18 December 1914
ANOTHER SKIPTON SOLDIER REPORTED KILLED – Grave News in a Comrade’s Letter
A few days ago Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Dalby, of 13, Cavendish Street, Skipton, received a message from Private Oscar T. Dodgson, of the 2nd West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, which mentioned that Private Frank Wilkinson, of the same regiment, and their adopted son, had been killed at the Front.
Private Wilkinson, who was relatively well-known is Skipton, was employed on the Midland Railway at the time of his re-enlistment as a reservist. When war was declared on Tuesday, August 4th, he immediately left in the evening for Halifax, but failing to secure a connection at Keighley he was compelled to return to Skipton, leaving, however, the next morning just as his papers were received from the War Office calling upon him to serve. His regiment was drafted to Dublin, but in a very few days was ordered to proceed to France. Several letters have been received from him by Mr. and Mrs. Dalby, the last on November 8th in which he incidentally stated that he had met a Skipton man, Pte. Jack Middlebrook, of Spring Gardens, at the Front. (The latter returned to Skipton about a fortnight ago.) He also said he had experienced ‘hell’, thereby suggesting that he had had to rough it badly. The fact that he had previously referred to Pte. Wilkinson, also of the 2nd West Riding Regiment, as having been among ‘his lot’ makes it apparent that the deceased man would take part in the first great engagement, viz. the Retreat from Mons, at the very beginning of the war. The probability is, therefore, that Pte. Wilkinson took part in some of the historic battles after that time.
THE FATAL LETTER
The letter from Pte. Dodgson intimating the sad news of his death, which, however, has not been confirmed by the War Office – nor has any official notice corroborated it – was as follows:–
4th December 1914.
“Dear Mrs. Dalby, Just a few lines to let you know I am in the very best of health, as I am hoping this will find you. If you have not heard about Frank, I will tell you that he got killed; but don’t let it worry you as he was doing his duty, and I am hoping for the best, and to have a couple of weeks with you when the war is over... Frank never got his cigarettes.”
Much sympathy is felt with Mr. and Mrs. Dalby, and hope is being expressed that the tragic news so simply expressed may prove to be untrue, although we fear there appears little ground for such a hope. One of Mrs. Dalby’s sons, Joseph Dalby, who belonged to the Territorials, is serving with the 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment at Doncaster, having volunteered for active service. He is only nineteen years of age. It may be recalled that Pte. Dodgson, who forwarded the sad news, has relatives in Skipton, and spent a furlough here prior to embarkation, having come from Canada to join the regiment.
BETTER NEWS
Mrs. Dalby has received, since the writing of the above, a communication from the War Office to say that Private Wilkinson has been missing since November 9th. The letter goes on to say that ‘missing’ does not necessarily mean dead or even wounded. It may mean that he has lost his unit, or regiment, and has fallen in with another troop. Mrs. Dalby hopes for the best.
24 December 1915
CRAVEN’S ROLL OF HONOUR – SKIPTON
Pte. Frank Wilkinson, 1st Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, killed in action in December 1914. Single man. Nephew of Mr. W.H. Dalby, coal merchant, Cavendish Street, Skipton.
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