Tribute to Askam teenage soldier a century after his death

His sacrifice will be commemorated by the lighting of a candle at 6pm at the Askam and Ireleth War Memorial.

Members of Askam and Ireleth History Group have been researching the men whose names are recorded on the memorial and holding a ceremony for each of them on the 100 th anniversary of their death.

Pte Wilkinson was killed in action in on April 26 in 1917, aged just 19, during the second battle of the Scarpe at Monchy-le-Preux.

His family background and military career has been traced by members of the history group with the help of Margaret Davies, of Barrow, and a photograph of the soldier from a matchbox holder the Australian branch of his family.

He was born and brought up in Great Urswick and his father was a miner at Lindal and at Park Mines, near Askam. His mother was originally from Cornwall.

Pte Wilkinson had the army number 30116 and served with the 8th Battalion of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

It is believed that his unusual middle name is after Malachi James Cranke, of Urswick, who had been good to the family.

There is a memorial to Mr Cranke in Urswick Church.

Pte Wilkinson was the son of Thomas and Emily Wilkinson, who at the time of his death were living at 12 Greenhaume.

At the age of 16 he joined the Dalton Territorial Army detachment and later signed up for service overseas.

He died in battle just three weeks after arriving in France.

His comrades in the 8th King’s Own formed part of the 3rd Division which was based on the Arras front in April and May, 1917 - taking part in the three Battles of the Scarpe at Arleux, Monchy and Roeux.

At the time of Pte Wilkinson’s death, the 8th Battalion was part of the division’s 76th Brigade at Monchy-le-Preux.

On April 23 the 8th King’s Own had taken over positions in front of Monchy-le-Preux which were plainly visible to the enemy.

Battalion headquarters was in cellars in the village and many of the troops occupied shell holes rather than trenches.

Snipers and machine-gunners prevented movement by day and during the night attempts were made to link up the shell holes into a defensive line.

Casualties continued to mount up and at 11.30pm on the 26th the enemy launched an assault but was beaten back.

A taste of the conditions they had shared is provided by the war diary of the Worcestershire Regiment which took part in an attack in the same area which started on the morning of St George’s Day, April 23.

It notes that the men had to survive a barrage of artillery fire from their own gunners from 4.45am in the moments before an attack.

The diary said: “It was supposed to fall 200 yards in front of our trench.

“A great many shells dropped in close proximity both in front and to the rear of our trench. 


“ The German barrage opened a few minutes after our own and was directed chiefly on our front line.”

The Worcesters set off hoping that the artillery fire would force the German defenders to keep their heads down but met a scene of chaos with considerable losses to snipers firing from the direction of Bois Du Vert.

It noted: “At 10 am Germans made counter attack which was beaten off mainly by rifle and Lewis gun fire but some of our advanced posts were rounded up.

“Intense shelling and sniping continued throughout the day.”

There was another heavy counter attack by the Germans at 4pm and again at 5pm.

It noted: “Shortage of flares and ammo was now felt and under extreme difficulties the line was reorganised.”

Three other Furness soldiers from the 8 th King’s Own died in the struggle for Monchy-le-Preux. All the deaths are given as April 26, none of the bodies were recovered and they are all named on the Arras Memorial.

Pte Alfred Edward Nicholls, aged 19, was the son of Mrs A. S. Nicholls, of St Vincent Street, Barrow.

L/Cpl James Bell, also 19, was the son of Adam Bell, of Florence Street, Barrow.

Joseph William Wilson was aged 26 and his mother Elizabeth lived in Steamer Street, Barrow.