Frank Wilkin

Frank Wilkin. 21709. Pte. 2nd. Bn. Coldstream Guards. KIA 27th April 1918, France.

Frank was the son of Francis and Isabella Wilkin, who lived at Broughton House Farm, Field Broughton. He had a brother, William "Billy" who lived in the village all his life and who has many local descendents. Frank's memorial plaque is still in the family's possession and his nephew, who was in the army in the Second World War, was named Frank after him and lived in Field Broughton, except for army service, all his life.

The Wilkin family farmed at Broughton House Farm and began a coal merchant's business, which, although farming interests have ceased and the Wilkins have moved into the village, continues today as the family run W.F. Wilkin and Son.

Broughton House Farm, 2000.

Frank worked at home and was a popular figure in Field Broughton village life. He was the only soldier personally remembered by Miss Nora Frearson, who was born in 1910 and who lived in Broughton House just across the road from the farm. Her father, Dixon Frearson, was a tailor and her cousins George Arthur and William died in World War II. She told me that Frank was an exceptionally nice young man, unlike his brother, who apparently teased the village girls mercilessly! Sadly Miss Frearson died in April 2000.

The Westmorland Gazette 11th May 1918 casualty list contained, "Field Broughton. WILKIN, Pte. Frank. Mr and Mrs Wilkin, of Broughton House Farm, have been officially informed that their elder son, Private Frank Wilkin, of the Coldstream Guards, was killed on the 27th of April. During the early morning of that date the trenches held by the Coldstreams were subjected to a furious bombardment by the enemy, and Pte. Wilkin died by shell fire. He was 23, joined the Coldstreams in February, 1917, and proceeded to France in March last. Previous to joining the army he lived at Broughton House Farm, and was a prominent figure in the social life of the village. He was for many years a member of the choir."

This photograph was emailed to me by a Canadian relative of Frank. Written on the back is "Uncle Frank and Pals" and "1916-18". I have no definite information on which one is Frank. The standing soldier is a Grenadier Guardsman, so can't be him.

This is not quite correct. A letter dated 10th May 1918 from Lt. Archie D. Cross to Frank's parents reads,"......there was not a second's pain, no bombardment at all, just a stray shell which landed on the trench killing one officer, two other men and wounding four others. He was buried by the battalion clergyman (Revd. L.N. Hodges) the same evening in a little village......."

There are two other letters in the family's possession one from the Revd. Hodges and one from his Platoon Sergeant, Lance Sergeant A. Kay 13629, No:7 Platoon, 2 Company, 2nd Bn.Coldstream Guards, both express their sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkin. Mrs Wilkin had sent a parcel which arrived on 3rd May, after his death so L/Sgt. Kay shared the contents among Frank's comrades.

The German offensives of spring and early summer 1918 were continuing at the date of Pte Wilkin's death. Ayette had been captured by the enemy on March 27th 1918 and was the scene of fierce fighting by the Guards Division on the 28th., finally falling to the British 32nd Division on 3rd April.

Frank, as can be seen when the dates given above are compared, had only just reached the front. He is buried in the small battlefield cemetery near where he fell, Ayette British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, Row A, Grave 2., which was used in March and April 1918 by the units fighting close by. The officer and one of the men killed that day lie in the next two graves to Frank. The unfortunate officer was Lt. William Brett St Leger, son of Major R. A. St. Leger, of George, Cape Province. He was a student in Cape Town, but left to fight in German South West Africa with the Cape Town Highlanders, where he was a corporal. Afterwards he went to England and trained with the Inns of Court O.T.C. for a commission. He lies in Grave A. 4. The other 27th April casualty in Ayette is Pte. Ernest Albert Watts of Biggleswade, Beds. in Grave A.3.