Mate (E) E Wilkinson RN

[Nigel Marshall]

I know virtually nothing about how to go about researching sailors, but I was pleased to see the Royal Navy medal rolls being released on Ancestry. I have found one of the men I need to research for a local nominal roll of those who served during the Great War and his entry can be seen HERE.

The only information that this line gives me that I didn't know before was that he was an engineering officer, that he was awarded the RN LSGC, and by virtue of that, must have been commissioned from the ranks. Does the date of this award (January 1st 1924) confirm service after the cut off for Officers files on Documents Online?

I'd be grateful if anyone could give me a lead on where to look next, or what resources are available to someone a long way from Kew.

If it helps at all this man is named on a Roll of Service for the village of Scholes, north east of Leeds, in what was the West Riding of Yorkshire. It should not be confused with the Scholes near Cleckheaton, or those around Manchester. I've not yet found him on any census, but that may not come as a surprise, seeing as he was likely to be away, certainly in 1911, and possibly even in 1901.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I've now checked the Great War Medal Rolls and I think I might have got him in those.

Here is an Edgar Wilkinson, Mate RN. It looks like he was entitled to a 1914-15 Star Trio.

What does the 'S' in column 5 mean, please?

And on the 1911 Census perhaps, the Boy Artificer, 18 year old Edgar Wilkinson, born in Rotherham in 1893, but in 1911 serving on HMS Indus is the right man to look at as well?

He would certainly fit the profile so far.

Cheers,

Nigel

[horatio2]

S = issued to self.

Here is his record as a rating:-

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7255854&queryType=1&resultcount=3

[David_Underdown]

I thought mate was the rank we now know as sub-lieutenant, but that changed in 1861, are you sure there wasn't anything else before mate?. The officers' records available online only go up to 1917 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/adm196.asp, it looks like he falls just outside the available ones. A naval commission should be gazetted as well, but I can't find anything that looks likely. Local libraries may have a run of the Navy List which might help you follow his career.

The record picked out by Horatio does show service on Indus from 16 July 1910 to 22 August 1912 and gives a date of birth of 22 May 1892 in Rotherham.

[Nigel Marshall]

Thanks for your responses, gents.

I have the ADM/188/1019 record from Documents Online and it makes for interesting reading. I think I can be fairly happy about tying the items that I've got together and saying they relate to the same man.

David, there was nothing else other than Mate RN, either on the Roll of Service, which is riddled with inaccuracies, or in the RN LSGC Medal Roll. I've a feeling that Mate was used for officers outside the Seaman/Surgeon roles, so Engineering would fit nicely, but I'm probably wrong on that. The Naval side of things is not a strong subject for me at all.

I'll have a crack at the 1901 Census next and see if I can find him. If I can see a brother with the initial 'W', I'll be happy.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Cheers,

Nigel

[ss002d6252]

Looking between 1870 and 1900 there where two edgar wilkinsons born in Rotherham

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

Births Jun 1887 Wilkinson Edgar Rotherham 9c612

Births Sep 1892 Wilkinson Edgar Rotherham 9c721

And this one with a brother 'W Wilkinson' on the 1901 census.

Name: Edgar Wilkinson

Age: 8

Estimated birth year: abt 1893

Relation: Son

Father's name: William Wilkinson

Mother's name: Ann Wilkinson

Gender: Male

Where born: Rotherham, Yorkshire, England

Civil Parish: Holbeck

Ecclesiastical parish: Little Holbeck St John

County/Island: Yorkshire

Country: England

Registration district: Holbeck

Sub-registration district: Holbeck

ED, institution, or vessel: 30

Household schedule number: 151

Household Members:

William Wilkinson 50

Ann Wilkinson 51

Emily Wilkinson 27

Mary Wilkinson 17

Wilfred Wilkinson 16

Henry Wilkinson 14

Jno Chas Wilkinson 12

Edgar Wilkinson 8

Ann Wilkinson 6

John J Shillitto 30

[Nigel Marshall]

Thanks for your effort there.

I am certain, given the date shown on the service record that the 1892 birth is the right one.

The family you have listed is the one I've been working on and I'm pretty happy that it is the correct one. Confirmation is always nice to get.

What I have to do now is to try to find a link to the village of Scholes!

Can I just say another thank you to you all for the help you've given me?

cheers,

Nigel

[ss002d6252]

seems strange as it appears to be only a smallish place.

[Nigel Marshall]

Do you mean Scholes was a small place?

That's true, but it was only incorporated into the City of Leeds in 1912, so any documentation relating to the village prior to that date is not held in the City Library. The West Yorkshire Archive Service has most of the records, which is even less accessible to me than Leeds or London. The AVLs of 1918 don't reach out as far as Scholes either.

Back to the Roll of Service, I'm happy now that the two Wilkinson's on my Roll of Service are Edgar and Wilfred.

Cheers,

Nigel

[ARABIS]

Nigel,

The only Navy List entry I have for him is October 1917.

Wilkinson Edgar [act] Mate [E], seniority 7 May 17. He was listed against HMS Tiger from 22 Sept 17.

David.

[Nigel Marshall]

Thanks David, it all helps.

Cheers,

Nigel