Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph and Hannah Wilkinson. The War Diary for today records. Patrols sent out at daybreak who reported small parties of enemy in the direction of the WADI RIVER. It was believed that the enemy were holding an advanced entrenched position with their left on the the Fort. Orders were issued for the Battn and the 56th (F.F.) RIFLES to drive back the enemy from the forward position and take up a line 800 yards or so beyond it to enable our artillery to shell the main position on the WADI RIVER. C and D Coy’s were in the firing line, A and B Coy’s in Reserve. The orders were carried out without encountering any opposition and the Battn dug themselves in. At 1.27pm report on enemy’s position was forwarded to Bde. At 2.17pm further report on enemy’s position forwarded. At 3.30pm the Battn with the 56th (F.F.) RIFLES on their right resumed the advance with orders to attack and occupy enemy’s main position along the WADI RIVER, thereby assisting the turning movement being carried out by the rest of the VII Div. Formation of Battn attack. Enemy opened fire at about 1100 yards range. The line continued steadily to advance until they got to within 450 yards of the enemy, by which time the Reserves (A and B Coy’s) had reinforced the firing line. Here a heavy fire was kept up on the enemy’s trenches which could now be seen extending along the whole length of the WADI. Ammunition was brought up and the Battn prepared for the assault. (Time about 4.48pm). At this stage the right flank of the Battn became subjected to enfilade machine gun and rifle fire. The assault was not carried out and the Battn dug themselves in with both flanks thrown back. About this time Major LEWIS was wounded and the Battn had suffered a loss of 3 other officers (Lt A. E. DAKIN, 2nd Lt R. W. G. CARD, 2nd Lt T. C. D. HASSALL all wounded) and 197 other ranks. Capt WEIR now in command. At 5.30pm and 8.00pm messages were sent by orderly to 28th Bde explaining the situation. As darkness set in the enemy’s fire developed into desultory sniping with occasional bursts of fire along different parts of the line. At about 11.00pm verbal orders arrived from Bde for the Battn to withdraw from its present position and take up a line 800 yards or so in rear in conjunction with the other units of the Bde, with a view to our artillery preparation being carried out the next morning. This withdrawal was carried out with no casualties, by 2.30am, and the Battn again dug themselves in.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 11th, 1915

Bed in a Wagon - Coalville Soldier thinks its a palace.

Writing to his father and mother, residents of Margaret Street, Coalville, Pte. George Wilkinson, at the front, says he is in the best of health. He continues, “We are out of the trenches, about five miles away, but we are close enough to hear the big guns banging. We are billeted at a farm house and my bed is in a wagon, but it is quite comfortable with plenty of straw in and a cover over the top – quite a little palace. I don’t know how long we are staying here, but probably for a week. I had a look at the ‘Coalville Times’ this afternoon and read all about the parade. I was glad to see that it was nice and fine for it.”

Coalville Times article - Friday February 11th, 1916

TWO COALVILLE SOLDIERS KILLED

News was officially received on Wednesday that two Coalville soldiers had been killed in action at the Persian Gulf on January 13th. They were Privates Stenson Hardy and Geo. Wilkinson, both of the 2nd Leicesters. Hardy was married and leaves a wife and child residing in Hotel Street, and Wilkinson was single, and before the war worked on the South Leicestershire Colliery bank. He lived with his father, Mr Jos. Wilkinson, an Urban Council roadman, of Margaret Street. Further details of these casualties and photos will appear in our next issue.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 18th, 1916

2nd Leicestershire Regiment's loss at the Persian Gulf

We regret to learn that the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, which was so prominent, and suffered heavily in the battle of Neuve Chapelle, and at Loos, has sustained further heavy casualties in the fighting at the Persian Gulf, and among the number officially reported killed, so far as we have been able to ascertain upto the present, are four Coalville soldiers. They are Privates S. Hardy, Hotel Street, E. H. Hunt, Victoria Road, and G. Wilkinson and J. Copley, both of Margaret Street. All belonged to the 2nd Leicesters, and are reported to have been killed at the Persian Gulf during January.

Private George Wilkinson, was a single man, and resided with his parents at 28, Margaret Street, his father, Mr Joseph Wilkinson, being a roadman in the employ of the Coalville Urban District Council. The deceased had served 12 years in the army and for about two years had been working on the bank at the South Leicestershire Colliery, being called up as a reservist on the outbreak of the war. He reached his 33rd birthday four days before he was killed, on January 13th. He was a good son to his aged parents, who naturally feel his loss very keenly.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 2/9/2017