Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Brigadier

Army Number : 23812

Unit : 2nd Bn (Chindits)

Biography :

Educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and at RMC Sandhurst, 'Jack' Wilkinson was commissioned into The Norfolk Regiment on 31.1.1924, serving in 1st Bn in Cyprus, Egypt, Shanghai, Malaya and India until 1938. He was then attached to the Palestine Police 29.9.1938-18.7.1941, and then served with 2nd Bn Queen's Royal Regt (West Surrey) in Syria. Joined 2nd Leicesters as 2IC in May 1941 in Tobruk, serving with it until August 1944, in Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Ceylon and India, being CO from 16.3.1943 until 28.8.1944, including the 2nd Chindit Expedition in Burma when he also commanded the 2nd Bn's 17 Column. Awarded the D.S.O. for his actions as CO at Indaw, Burma, 26-30 Mar 1944 (L.G. 22.6.1944). As a Brigadier he commanded 77th (Indian) Parachute Brigade 1945-47. Commandant Small Arms School, Hythe 1947-49. Commander 4th Guards Brigade 1949-50, and 149th (West Riding) Infantry Brigade (TA) 1950-53. He retired from the Army on 18.11.1953. He was the last Colonel The Royal Norfolk Regiment 1951-59.

Action for which recommended -

On 26 March 1944 near INDAW Lt-Col WILKINSON, who had had his right arm broken in a skirmish the previous day, led two colns round the enemy's flank through exceedingly difficult country, partly in the hours of darkness. The Colns emerged onto a motor road along which the enemy's forward units were being deployed. The enemy was at first completely surprised and Lt-Col WILKINSON quickly probed north and south causing havoc behind the lines. The main force which had hoped to profit by this situation was meanwhile heavily engaged some ten miles away. Unable to defeat the enemy opposed to it and completely without water, the force was obliged to withdraw. The enemy was thus able to surround Lt-Col WILKINSON's force with greatly superior numbers, and to pin it to a small area bounded on one side by a high range of hills and on the other by a lake.

In this exposed position, Lt-Col WILKINSON continued to fight for two days and nights until ordered to withdraw, putting all weapons at his disposal to best use and employing direct air support with ingenuity and skill. He effected the withdrawal of his force complete with stores and animals, and extricating all the wounded. During the four days fighting, his troops sustained only ten fatal casualties whereas, apart from air support, no less than 130 Japanese were counted on the field.

Throughout the operation, which was a model of its kind, Lt-Col WILKINSON, despite his painful wound, handled his troops with admirable skill and set an unsurpassable example of personal courage. Only when the last of his wounded had been evacuated did he consent himself to hand over command.

Recommended By
Brigadier B.E. Fergusson DSO

Honour or Reward

Distinguished Service Order

Date of Birth : 20.11.1903

Date of Death : 18.12.1998

Place of Death : Norfolk

Civil Occupation : Farmer in Norfolk

Period of Service : 1924-53

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : Cyprus, Egypt, China, Malaya, India, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Ceylon, Burma