| Wilkinson | William Thornton | | Lieutenant | WILKINSON, WILLIAM THORNTON, Lieutenant, was born 10 June 1877, son of Colonel W H Wilkinson, of North Deighton Manor, Wetherby, Yorkshire. He was educated at Uppingham and Sandhurst, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers 8 September 1897; was promoted Lieutenant 25 November 1898. He served from 1900 to 1902 in the South African War, taking part in the operations in Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Karee Siding, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, 1900; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, 1900, including action at Zilikat's Nek; operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; had the Queen's Medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "William Thornton Wilkinson, Lieutenant, King's Own Scottish Borderers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 24 October 1902. He was promoted Captain 4 December 1903, and was employed with the West African Frontier Force 23 February 1910 to 29 June 1911, and served as a Territorial Adjutant from 10 March 1913. He again saw active service in the European War; becoming Major 1 September 1915, he was in command of a Territorial Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment from September 1915 to October 1918. He was made Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 1 January 1918, and was awarded a Bar to the DSO [London Gazette, 26 July 1918]: “William Thornton Wilkinson, Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Under difficult circumstances he extricated his battalion in good order, holding two rearguard positions to cover the withdrawal. On another occasion, with two battalions, he held on to some high ground from 9 am to 5 pm, although his right flank was in the air. Exposed to heavy machine-gun fire, he went up and down the line encouraging his men, being subsequently wounded in the head". From October 1918, he was in command of a battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was wounded and mentioned in Despatches. He married, in 1918, Evelyn Sybil, youngest daughter of the Reverend and Mrs Ward, of The Vicarage, Amotherby, Malton.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | King's Own Scottish Borderers |
