Wilkinson brothers killed on 1st July 1916

[Mark Hone]

Another intriguing mystery has cropped up on our Bury Virtual War Memorial. Private William Wilkinson, from Walshaw of 11th Royal Fusiliers, was killed on 1st July, and is commemorated on Thiepval. The obituary notice records that his brother Private B. Wilkinson, was killed on the same day. However there is no obit for B. Wilkinson, and neither of the two 'B. Wilkinsons' on CWGC immediately fit the bill-one was born in Chester-Le-Street and the other in Sheffield. Albert ('Bert') Wilkinson , of the 1st East Lancs, from Bacup is also a possibility. Unfortunately, CWGC has no personal details for William which might give us a clue. Anybody any tips-perhaps someone has already researched brothers killed on the First Day of the Somme?

Below: Private William Wilkinson, 11th Royal Fusiliers

[Armoured Farmer]

Mark,

I have checked SDGW for any B Wilkinson who died between 21st June, 1916 to 31st July, 1916. There are three: -

wilkinson_b.pdf

I hope this helps.

Hugh

There are 91 Wilkinson returned for those dates, all of the B Wilkinson are Benjamin.

Edited 11 April , 2007 by Armoured Farmer

[Mark Hone]

Thanks-I checked SDGW , I thought, for the whole of July, but missed the Bury B. Wilkinson killed on 12th July. I'm definitely getting more senior moments! That must be him, and when the Memorial Book obits were written up 'Mr Hone's First Law of Local Newspapers' (they never quite get everything right), has taken over. The remaining mystery is, why didn't the Bury Times do an obit for Benjamin? Even if they don't have a photo, the Book has a special 'Others' section at the end.

[Armoured Farmer]

Mark,

I know what you mean about senior moments, they get us all in the end!

Glad to be able to help.

Hugh

[Mark Hone]

On reflection, the Bury Times didn't get it that wrong. Benjamin was almost certainly wounded during 1st East Lancs attack at Beaumont hamel and then died in hospital on 12th-he is buried at Etaples.

[John_Hartley]

The remaining mystery is, why didn't the Bury Times do an obit for Benjamin?

Mark

My project is littered with Stopfordians for whom there was no newspaper obituary.

And, in quite a number of cases, it means there's been nothing to help identify the "F Smith" on the memorial.

John