William Henry WILKINSON

23562, Private. b. 1885, Thornton d. Wed. 25th April 1917 (aged 32).

Having grown up in Thornton, William knew the area well but had not moved into Clayton until leaving his parents’ home. In 1901 he was still listed as living with them whilst working as a barber’s assistant in the village of his birth.

By the time he joined up in 1915 in Bradford he was working for Robert Foulds, Quarry Owner, and living with his wife on Clayton Lane. Very little is known about his time overseas as the first mention of him is in the Bradford Weekly Telegraph on 1st June 1917, when he is announced to be missing in action.

At this point he was serving with the 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment who were fighting in the 2nd battle of the Scarpe. This
offensive was the second phase in the Allies’ advance to attempt to capture the German stronghold of the Hindenburg line. This was not to be achieved for many months, and unfortunately William would never see it. He was killed in action on April 25th and is now remembered on Arras Memorial.