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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 425

A Great War casualty group of three awarded to Private F. T. Wilkinson, King's Royal Rifle Corps, who enlisted underage and who was killed in action on 29 June 1917

1914 Star (6-733 Pte F. T. Wilkinson. 2/K.R.Rif:C.); British War and Victory Medals (6-733 Pte. F. Wilkinson. K.R.Rif.C.) very fine (3)

Frederick Thomas Wilkinson was born at Shoreditch, Middlesex, and enlisted at Stratford, Essex. His entry for the 1911 census shows him as being 13 years old and was clearly under the age of enlistment when he enlisted which he did on 7 October 1912, falsely giving the age of 17 years and 11 months. He first served overseas in France on 20 September 1914 and is further entitled to the clasp and was wounded on 6 November 1914, returning to the U.K. on 21 November 1914. On 17 October 1915 Wilkinson deserted and in turn was tried by D.C.M. on 3 December 1915 and was to receive 3 months detention at the Detention Barracks in Woking and was also to forfeit 1 year and 118 days of service. He was sent back to the front on 31 March 1917 and was killed in action on 29 June 1917. He was originally commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, however recent research on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website confirms that he is buried in the Messines Ridge British Cemetery. He was the son of Charles and Louisa Wilkinson, of 38, Grange St., St. John's Rd., Hoxton, London.

Sold with a modern reduced size Memorial Plaque with his name engraved.

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Sold for
£120

Starting price
£110