Main CPGW Record
Surname: WILKINSON
Forename(s): George Emsley
Place of Birth: Kilnsey, Yorkshire
Service No: 240112
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 5th Battalion
Division: 62nd (2/West Riding) Division
Age: 23
Date of Death: 1918-07-26
Awards: M.M.
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: 79.
CWGC Cemetery: VERTUS COMMUNAL CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: CONISTONE-WITH-KILNSEY, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
George Emsley Wilkinson was the son of Richard Armistead and Jane Wilkinson, née Sayer and the brother of Private Felix Wilkinson (32626) (q.v.). Their father was born at Litton and mother at Littleburn near Thoralby, Yorkshire. George and Felix's aunt, Mary Wilkinson, married George Emsley in 1886. In 1908 Mary married Thomas Twisleton, the father of Major Francis Morphet Twisleton (9/662) (q.v.).
1901 Conistone-with-Kilnsey, Yorkshire Census: North Cote, Kilnsey - George Emsley Wilkinson, aged 5 years, born North Cote. [George was living with his grandparents, Felix and Katherine Sayer. His parents, Richard and Jane, were also living at North Cote.]
1911 Kirkburton, Yorkshire Census: Lane Head Farm - George Wilkinson, aged 16 years, born Rylstone, Yorkshire, son of Richard and Jane Wilkinson.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte George Wilkinson, 2004; Sjt 240112, 1/5 W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 13.4.15. D. of W. 26.7.18.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Sgt George Wilkinson, 240112, 1/5 W. Rid. R.; 2/5 W. Rid. R.; 5 W. Rid. R. D. of W. 26.7.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Sgt George Wilkinson, 240112, 5th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 26.7.18. France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother and sole legatee - Jane. £47 13s. 10d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for George. Names on card(s): Mother - Mrs Jane Wilkinson and Miss Kathleen May Barden.
On the 30 January 1918, the 1/5th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) was transferred from the 49th (West Riding) Division to the 62nd (2/West Riding) Division and absorbed the 2/5th Battalion becoming the 5th Battalion.
George is commemorated on Kirkburton War Memorial; Huddersfield Drill Hall War Memorial and in 'Huddersfield's Roll of Honour 1914-1922' by J. Margaret Stansfield (2014).
A short biography of George is included in: ‘Swaledale & Wharfedale Remembered – Aspects of Dales’ life through peace and war’ by Keith Taylor (2006).
Photograph courtesy of the 'Huddersfield Examiner'.
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: ---
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Sergeant George Emsley WILKINSON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 62nd (2/West Riding) Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Conistone School, c. 1900
Left to right: Annie Inman (Tennant Arms), Lilly Inman (Tennant Arms), John Inman (Tennant Arms), Polly Horner (Chapel House Lodge), Mary Wilkinson (Northcote), Miriam Wilkinson (Northcote). The Wilkinson girls were the sisters of Private Felix Wilkinson (32626) (q.v.) and Sergeant George Emsley Wilkinson (240112) (q.v.)
Courtesy of Lucy J. Suffield, the daughter of John and Elsie Inman
Richard Armistead Wilkinson and his sons
Left to right: George Emsley, Felix, Tennant, William (white shirt), Richard Armistead, John
Courtesy of Burton Environment Group
Kirkburton Garden of Remembrance
Courtesy of Burton Environment Group
Kirkburton War Memorial - detail (Felix and George Emsley Wilkinson)
Courtesy of Burton Environment Group
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
05 October 1917
CRAVEN AND THE WAR – A DALES SOLDIER RECEIVES MILITARY MEDAL
Corporal G. E. Wilkinson, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, has been awarded the Military Medal. Corporal Wilkinson is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, late of Cote Farm, Kilnsey, and later of Lane Head Farm, Kirkburton, and is 22 years of age. He was a Territorial when the war broke out in 1914, and went to France in April 1915. Corporal Wilkinson was previously employed by Messrs. Taylor & Hobson, cabinetmakers, Huddersfield. Mrs. Wilkinson has three other sons in the Army – Sergt. Tennant Wilkinson (who has been mentioned by Sir John French and Sir Douglas Haig in despatches), and is home on leave just now awaiting his commission; Pte. Felix Wilkinson, who has been missing since May 3rd; and Pte. Jack Wilkinson, who is in training in England.
The medal was awarded for the following acts of gallantry:– “For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in the trenches. On the night of August 7th 1917, battalion headquarters in the trenches were heavily shelled and all wires were broken. Corporal Wilkinson, with two linesmen, went out and repaired the lines to two of the companies under extremely difficult conditions. On the night of August 13th, during the inter-battalion relief, the corporal and his linesmen again went out under heavy shellfire and repaired lines, which had been broken. On this occasion the relieving battalion had one of their linesmen killed and two others wounded within a few feet of them. On the night of August 16th all wires were again broken and he and his linesmen immediately went out along the canal bank, which was being heavily shelled with gas shells and high explosives at the time, and succeeded in getting the line through to the left front line company.”
23 August 1918
WILKINSON – July 27th, in hospital in France, died of wounds received in action, 204112, Sergeant G. Wilkinson, M.M., third son of the late Mr. Wilkinson, North Cote, Kilnsey, and Mrs. Wilkinson, Park View, Kirkburton.
Greater love hath no man than this
– that a man lay down his fife for his friend.
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