BORN BRADFORD, 1894. SON OF JANE ROBERTSHAW & JOSEPH WILKINSON, OF 125 BRADFORD ROAD, FRIZINHALL, BRADFORD. HE HAD TWO BROTHERS AND A SISTER. THE FAMILY BUSINESS WAS COAL. EDUCATED AT BRADFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL. SHOWED PROMISE IN FRENCH, GERMAN, BOOK KEEPING AND SHORTHAND. HOVERE LEFT SCHOOL WITH NO CERTIFICATES. HE TOOK A WORK POSITION WITH MESSRS, MAJOR & CO, TAR DISTILLERS, OF HULL.
WHEN WAR BEGAN HE QUIT HIS POSITION AND ENLISTED IN HULL. HE JOINED THE LEEDS UNIVERSITY OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AND WAS COMMISSIONED INTO THE 3RD DEVONS, A TRAINING DEPOT. HE WAS POSTED TO FRANCE IN JUNE 1916 AND TRANSFERRED TO THE 2ND/5TH GLOUCESTER REGIMENT WITH FIVE OTHER DEVON OFFICERS. HE WAS HOLDING THE LINE AT LEVANTIE WHEN HE WAS KILLED BY A GRENADE. HE HAD BEEN IN FRANCE FOR LESS THAN THREE WEEKS.
HE WAS ATTACHED TO THE 2ND/5TH GLOUCESTER REGIMENT WHEN KILLED, ON 27/07/1916, AGED 21. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 28/07/1917. HE LEFT £9 AND 11 SHILLINGS IN HIS WILL TO JOSEPH WILKINSON, A COLLIERY TRAVELLER.
