Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William and Harriet Wilkinson. Other sources show his place of birth as Billesdon, Leics. The War Diary entry for the period from the 15th to the 16th May 1916 records. A patrol of 1 officer and 20 other ranks went out from trench 66 at 9.30pm. and returned by trench 59 at 11.50pm. to reconnoitre the ground between the two lines. 2 wire patrols out in front of 59 and 62 at 8.00pm to examine and work on wire. Situation normal throughout the day. Enemy artillery extremely active between 12.15 and 1.00am. night of 15th/16th. About 100 trench mortars and 150 rounds of shrapnel and high explosive (77mm) were fired at trench 67, causing some damage to parapet. 2 men killed, 1 wounded. Trench mortar bombs appeared to come from the direction of the osier beds ¼ left from trench 67 and artillery from direction of ESSARTS. Our Lewis guns dispersed enemy’s wire party at 7.00pm. E.23.d.1.4.