Wilkins, Albert Pretoria

Wilkins, Albert Pretoria

Military History:

Regiment:                             The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)

Rank:                                    Private

Regimental Number:           49224

Date of Enlisting:                2.1918

Date of death:                     2nd quarter 1976

Cemetery/ Memorial:            

UK Cemetery/Memorial:    St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour

Albert enlisted in February 1918.  He joined (The Prince Consort’s Own) Rifle Brigade, Regimental Number 49224. He was sent to the Western Front, France and Flanders where in August 1918 he was wounded in the back and as he lay injured was buried by a shell exploding nearby.  He was rescued and evacuated to England for treatment.  After recovering, Albert was returned to the Western Front, attached to the 2/10 London Regiment.  He survived the War and died in the Hitchin District in the 2nd quarter 1976.

Albert was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Family History:

Date of Birth:                16.1.1900

Birth Place:                   Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Residence:

Marriage:                      Not known

Albert was born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 16th January 1900, the fifth son of Charles Simons Wilkins and Mary Jane (nee Winter) Wilkins.  He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

It is not known if Albert married or had children.  He died in the Hitchin District in the 2nd quarter 1976.

Albert’s brother Percy was killed in action on the Western Front. His brothers Harry and Arthur also served in the War and survived. His brother Prime Frederick died aged 17 in 1908 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire.

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