BORN HULL 23/02/1898. SECOND SON OF GEORGE WILKIN (1861-1945) & MARY JANE COLLINS, OF 34 VANE STREET, SPRING BANK WEST, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). HIS FATHER WAS A CLERK FOR THE STEAM OWNERS.
HE ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL NAVY. SERVED AS AN ORDINARY SEAMAN. DIED AT SEA, ON 19/03/1918, AGED 20.
HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON HULL TECHNICAL COLLEGE ROH. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL.
HMS MOTAGUA – December 1914 to May 1918, Northern Patrol (10th Cruiser Squadron, including mined and damaged), Central Atlantic convoys (including collision with USS Manley) On 19 March 1918. In a collision with US destroyer MANLEY, the depth charges on board the MOTAGUA exploded, killing 28 crew members and wounding another 33. A total of 34 men of the MANLEY were killed or wounded. Blow is the Montagua’s Log:
7.45am: Sighted destroyer Escort.
8.5am: US destroyer “Manley” [details here] approached on port bow, and rounded close under “Motagua’s” stern and came alongside starboard side.
8.10am: Manley’s stern collided with Motagua’s counter causing Manley’s depth charges to detonate. Heavy explosion followed Completely Wrecking Motagua’s poop and stern and causing extensive damage to the whole upperworks of Motagua including wireless cabin and aerial. Manley drifted away heavily on fire from Bridge aft.
9.0am: Motagua proceeded under her own steam steering by engines and escorted by Bluebell joined later by “Polyanthus”. Hands employed collecting Wounded, clearing away debris and recovering dead.
[Differing revs for port and starboard engines recorded from 9am to 9pm]
Noon: Mustered ships company. 1 Officer (Sub Lieutenant Rowland RNVR) and 7 men missing. 2 Officers (Lieutenant CS Wood RNR and Mr Lee RN Gunner) and 17 men identified, killed and 1 unidentified, killed. Approximately 33 Wounded.
4.0pm: Committed to the deep the remains of the late: Lieutenant Wood RNR, Mr Lee RN, Privates Beaney, Brown, Carver, Powell, Wykes [further details here], Oram, Levett and Corporal Wyatt RMLI. Stokers Logan, Turley, Goram [Gorman], McMenamin, Kerr, Rady [Raidy], Nolan, McCasken [McCracken], Assistant Steward Fraser and 1 unidentified body.
[Lat 49 32 N, Long 7 43 W]
[See also Casualty List for this date – full entry reads: Motagua, armed merchant cruiser, in collision with US destroyer Manley off Irish coast. damaged by her exploding depth charges BEANEY, Ernest E, Private, RMLI, 15681 (Po), BROWN, Francis S, Private, RMLI (RMR B 582), 8971 (Po), CARVER, Edward J, Private, RMLI (RMR B 712), 8331 (Po), FRASER, John, Assistant Steward, MMR, 807704, GORMAN, George, Fireman, MMR, 915140, HANDS, George, Ordinary Seaman, RNVR, Bristol Z 10038, HARRIS, Albert L, Armourer’s Crew, M 14742 (Po), JENNINGS, Fred, Ordinary Seaman, RNVR, Bristol Z 10335, KERR, Thomas, Greaser, MMR, 16898, LEE, William J, Gunner, LEVETT, Percy E C, Private, RMLI (RMR B 1153), 10347 (Po), LOGAN, Robert, Fireman, MMR, 639523, MCCRACKEN, John J, Trimmer, MMR, 941969, MCMENAMIN, John, Greaser, MMR, 479562, MCMILLAN, John, Private, RMLI (RMR B 1166), 10066 (Po), NOLAN, Edward, Trimmer, MMR, 924232, ORAM, Bert, Private, RMLI, 17178 (Po), PEARSON, Richard, Petty Officer (Pens), 169482 (Po), POLLOCK, Robert S, Greaser, MMR, 812113, POWELL, Albert, Private, RMLI (RMR B 809), 9440 (Po), RAIDY, James, Greaser, MMR, 677571, ROWLAND, Harold C, Sub Lieutenant, TURLEY, Thomas P, Fireman, MMR, 915138, WELLS, Ernest, Ordinary Seaman, RNVR, Bristol Z 5881, WILKIN, Clive, Ordinary Seaman, J 64183 (Po), WOOD, Charles S, Lieutenant, RNR, WYATT, Albert W, Corporal, RMLI, 15005 (Po), WYKES, Gordon V, Private, RMLI, 17799 (Po)] [There is also a list of those killed on USS Manley for this date here]
