Personal Details
Born: 31 October 1889 in Whitchurch, Shropshire and baptised on 20 January 1890 in St. Alkmund’s Parish Church, Whitchurch.
Family: He was the second of eight children born to George Wilkinson, a butcher, and his wife Henrietta. He married Evelyn A Edwards in 1944 in Whitchurch and together they had one child, Patricia A.
Residence: He lived with his family until at least 1911 at 28 High Street, Whitchurch. The address shown on the 1919 Absent Voters’ Register was 5 Talbot Street, Whitchurch, the home of his widowed mother. At the time of his death in 1948 he was living at 11 Talbot Street, Whitchurch.
Employment: In 1911 he was assisting in his mother’s butcher’s business.
Died: In 1948 in Wrekin Lodge, Wellington, Shropshire and buried on 22 December the same year in Whitchurch Cemetery, aged 59.
Military Details
Regiment: King`s Shropshire Light Infantry
Rank: Corporal
Service Number: 200832
Date of Enlistment: Not known
Date of Discharge: Not known
Reason for Discharge: Demobilisation
Other Information: His brother George also served in WW1.
James was awarded the Campaign Medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal)
The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.