Pte 31010 Arthur Wilkinson

• Age: 29
• From: Preston, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 22nd March 1916
• Commemorated at: Corbie Cc
  Panel Ref: I.E.24

Arthur was born in Preston in the summer of 1887, the eldest of three children born to William Wilkinson, a pawnbroker’s assistant, and his wife, Bessie (nee Stocks). William and Bessie, both born in Preston, married in 1885. At the time of Arthur's baptism in St. Thomas's Church, Preston, on 28th August 1887 his parents lived in Aqueduct Street East, and his father gave his occupation as pawnbroker.

In 1891 the family lived at 39 Aqueduct Street East, Preston. His father is employed as a pawnbroker’s assistant; Arthur is 3, and Minnie 1 year old.  Also in the household is a boarder, Samuel Stocks, 18, a cabinet maker, who is Bessie's younger brother.

By 1901, family had moved to 75 Plungington Road, Preston, with three children. His father is 42, still working as a pawnbroker’s assistant, his mother is 34, Arthur is 13. They have a servant/housekeeper.

His mother died in 1907 at the age of 40.

In 1911 lived at 16 Plungington Road, by which time William, now a 55 year old widower, had his own confectionery and bread making business, while Arthur, now aged 24, was employed as a law clerk, Minnie Florence, aged 21 is a confectioner, and Alice Maud aged 18, is a sewing machinist. 

Arthur joined the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 31010. His service record is not available and the medal roll shows him as having earned 2 medals. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that Arthur volunteered no earlier than March 1915. He arrived in France in early 1916.

Arthur died of wounds on 22^nd March 1916, aged 29, at No.5 Casualty Clearing Station and now rests at Corbie Cemetery, Grave I E 24 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"EVER REMEMBERED" 

Corbie was about 20 kilometres behind the front when Commonwealth forces took over the line from Berles-au-Bois southward to the Somme in July 1915. The town immediately became a medical centre, with Nos 5 and 21 Casualty Clearing Stations based at La Neuville (the suburb across the Ancre) until October 1916 and April 1917 respectively. In November 1916 the front moved east, but the German advance in the Spring of 1918 came within 10 kilometres of the town and brought with it field ambulances of the 47th Division and the 12th Australian Field Ambulance. The communal cemetery was used for burials until May 1916, when the plot set aside was filled and the extension opened. The majority of the graves in the extension are of officers and men who died of wounds in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The remainder relate to the fighting of 1918. The communal cemetery contains 249 First World War burials, the extension 918. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.

The 20th Battalion War Diary for 17th March records no casualties -

At Etinehem - The Battalion marched to Corbie via Chipilly - Sailly Laurette - Sailly le Sec - Vaux sur Somme, arriving in billets at 3:50 pm.

The diary records on the following days cleaning, refitting, bathing, parading, no casualties.

However, on 15th March, at Maricourt -

In the trenches. Night of 14/15 quiet. M. Gun in FT.29 dispersed enemy working party repairing trench W of AP.1 damaged by our artillery - M. Gun in FT.31 fired at intervals in reply to enemy M. Gun.  Gun in FT.33 dispersed enemy working party. Gun in FT.35 fired on and eventually silenced enemy M. Gun.
9:40 pm - enemy fired several salvos into Maricourt village and trench H.Q. also into Main Avenue. 3 O.R.s wounded.

CWGC says that he was the brother of Minnie Florence Wilkinson of 247 Newall Lane, Preston.

His father placed a notice in the Lancashire Evening Post on 31st March 1916:

“On the 22nd inst., at the clearing hospital, France (from wounds received on the 17th inst.), Arthur Wilkinson, King’s Liverpool Regt. and formerly with Messrs. Clarke and Son, Solicitors, Preston, the beloved son of William Wilkinson, 16, Plungington Road, Preston. (Deeply regretted.)”

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3 went to his sister Minnie, who was awarded a gratuity in lieu of a pension.

Arthur’s father lived to the age of 80 and died in 1938.

Arthur is commemorated on Preston’s Roll of Honour located in the Harris Museum &Art Gallery.

And on the family gravestone in Preston Cemetery -

                              In Loving Memory 

       ALSO OF ARTHUR, THEIR SON, WHO DIED     

OF WOUNDS MARCH 22ND 1916, AGED 29 YEARS

                         INTERRED IN FRANCE                             

                                     AT REST             

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