Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Wilkinson, a journeyman baker, born 1871 in Grantham, Lincolnshire and his wife Eliza Wilkinson (nee Smith, married on the 8th May 1892 in St. Mary le Wigford Church, Lincoln), born 1874 in Lincoln, and who was the daughter of Dymock Moody and Harriett Smith of 2, Gresham Street, Lincoln. John Thomas was born in the 1st quarter of 1893 in Lincoln, his siblings were George Alfred, born 1896, Hilda Eva, born 1898, Edith Eliza, born 1899 and Florence Annie, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Measham, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Measham. In April 1911 John was absent from the family home at Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a farm groom and yard man, his mother and siblings, George, a farm servant, Hilda, a schoolgirl, Edith, a schoolgirl, Florence, a schoolgirl, Albert Edward, a schoolboy, born 1903 in Measham and Gladys, a schoolgirl, born 1905 in Pickworth, Rutland. In the 3rd quarter of 1914 in the Wakefield, Yorkshire district, John married Mary Ann Tetley. They had a daughter Charlotte, who was born in the 2nd quarter of 1916 in Wakefield and who died in the 4th quarter of 1916. In the 3rd quarter of 1917 in the Wakefield, Yorkshire district, John’s widow married William Allen. John first entered the theatre of war in France on the 8th June 1915, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 15 Sep-16 – GINCHY. The Battalion marched to its assembly trenches just East of GINCHY on the night of the 14th. Arrived in position by 8.45am 15th. No. 3 and 4 Companies in front line in a trench, No. 3 Company on right. The remainder of the Battalion lying out behind in shell holes, and closed up as much as possible to avoid enemy barrage which was usually intense in GINCHY. The night was very dark, and the problem of getting the troops into position a very difficult one, and was greatly assisted by Lieutenant R. S. BAUGH, who went up in the evening to reconnoitre the ground and arrange markers. The new tanks were distributed along the line and they were ordered to attack before the infantry, and had their own barrage which started at 5.30am. The two tanks in front of the Battalion position never arrived at all, and their barrage only served to warn the enemy of what was coming. Enemy barrage started at 6.10am and caused a good many casualties. Our own barrage started at 6.20am and the whole Battalion advanced 30 yards behind it. The 3rd Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS were on the right, and beyond them the 6th Division. On the left were the 1st Brigade consisting of 2nd and 3rd Battalion’s COLDSTREAM GUARDS in front line, so that 3 COLDSTREAM Battalion’s advanced in line. In order to get in touch with 2nd Battalion after starting, the Battalion had to advance half left, and in doing so, got into the end of the 1st Brigade barrage, and suffered a good many casualties. The 1st objective was supposed to be about 1000 yards away, but actually the enemy were holding two lines of trenches strongly not more than 250 yards away. This latter led to some confusion but nothing stopped the advance, and these two trenches were taken, nearly all the enemy being killed in them. The attack was then re-organised as well as possible, and the IRISH and SCOTS GUARDS being by that time up in line, the advance was carried on to the next objective. All the time the 6th Division on our right had failed to make any progress at all, and we were suffering heavy casualties from Machine Gun fire from high ground on our right. In spite of this the advance continued and the second line of enemy trenches was taken, less opposition was met here, as many of the enemy surrendered. By this time nearly all of the Officers of the Battalion had become casualties and the Battalion was very much split up, and having lost direction, some had joined the other Battalions on their left. A party of about 63 COLDSTREAM under the Adjutant (Captain DIGBY) kept their direction, and with the survivors of SCOTS, IRISH and GRENADIERS, now occupied what they took to be the second objective, but which was really the 1st according to the scheme. Here they consolidated, and held on, though under heavy Machine Gun and rifle fire from their right flank and rear. Another party of about 40 1st Battalion under Lieutenant R. J. BAUGH had gone off further to their left and were joined up with 1st Brigade, who had also gained this objective, and still another party of about 30 under Lieutenant KANEEN were now under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J. CAMPBELL, who had pressed on and gained another trench, slightly in advance, and who now contemplated advancing to attack LESBOEUFS, which was the final objective. However they too, had lost their direction, and gone off too much to the left and were not in the second objective as they supposed, but in a trench some 200 yards short of it. As the right flank was completely exposed owing to the failure of the 6th Division, orders were sent to stop the advance and consolidate. It seems probable that if at that moment supports could have been sent up and carried on the advance forward, LESBOEUFS might have been gained as the enemy were disorganised and retreating through the village.. However even if that had been done it is highly improbable that the position could have been held against counter attacks from the right and rear. As it was Major ROCK, IRISH GUARDS formed a different flank on the right, with a mixed detachment of about 150 men which contained some men of the 1st Battalion under Lieutenant MAYNARD who was shortly afterwards killed there. This party was quite isolated, and had both flanks in the air, and after beating off two local counter attacks in which Major ROCK was wounded, was withdrawn. Major HOPWOOD, who with 6 other Officers had been left out of the attack, heard about 2.00pm that the Commanding Officer had been killed, and at once went up with 3 other Officers, and eventually found Captain DIGBY’s party at about 9.30pm. At that time it appeared that Captain DIGBY was the only surviving Officer but late that night we heard that Lieutenant’s BAUGH and KANEEN were alive, but quite separated from us, and from each other. The night was spent in organising and consolidating the position, and all the following day (16th). We were heavily shelled by enemy, who also attempted to make counter attacks which failed from the start. We suffered very slight casualties from the hostile bombardment. During the night of the 15th and early morning of 16th parties of 20th Division came up, and made small bombing attacks against enemy who was still holding out on our right rear, but these attacks were only partially successful.
Casualties;
Lieutenant Colonel Honourable G. V. Baring, killed in action.
Captain B. R. JACKON, killed in action.
Lieutenant R. H. P. PEASE, killed in action.
Lieutenant F. GRISSEL, killed in action.
Lieutenant H. C. MAYNARD, killed in action.
Lieutenant H. H. C. WILLIAMSON, killed in action.
Lieutenant F. THEWLIS, M.C., wounded and missing, believed killed in action.
2nd Lieutenant S. M. SCOTT, wounded and missing, believed killed in action.
Lieutenant R. N. DILBEROGLUE, wounded and missing.
2nd Lieutenant J. R. FLEMING, wounded.
2nd Lieutenant H. WALPOLE, wounded.
Captain E. F. MARTYN, M.C., R.A.M.C., wounded.
Lieutenant R. S. BAUGH, wounded.
Other Ranks. Killed in action, 25. Wounded, 218. Missing, 224.
Total Battalion casualties including Officers and men, 503.
On Friday November 17th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – A DOUBLE BEREAVEMENT. – Pte. J. T. Wilkinson, Coldstream Guards, who was recently reported missing, is now officially notified as having been killed in action. He is a son of Mr. J. T. Wilkinson, 6, Brook-st., Melton Mowbray, but was working at Wakefield when the war broke out, and enlisted from there, having previously served with the Territorial’s. The sad news reached his father last Friday morning, deceased’s wife who lives at Wakefield, having received a communication from the War Office the previous day. Her only baby died on October 1st, and the utmost sympathy will be extended to Mrs. Wilkinson in her double bereavement. Pte. Wilkinson was 23 years of age.
On Friday September 13th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – IN MEMORIAM. WILKINSON. – In ever loving memory of our dear son, Pte. J. F. Wilkinson, Coldstream Guards who was killed in action in France Sept. 15th, 1916.
He is gone but not forgotten.
And as dawns another year.
In our lonely hours of thinking.
Thoughts of him are always near.
Yet again we hope to meet him.
When our days on earth are fled.
And in heaven we hope to meet him.
Where no farewell tears are shed.
Never forgotten by his loving Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters.