Alfred William Wilkinson - 10th Batt. Lancashire Fusiliers

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Alfred William Wilkinson was born in Salford in 1887 the son of Edwin and Emily Wilkinson. He married Eliza Ann Judson just before the outbreak of war, they had a daughter Alice born in 1914. Alfred was killed in action on the 2nd September 1918

Alfred's grandson has kindly allowed us to post some pictures and letters that his grandfather sent during his service in the Army.


Name: Alfred Wilkinson
Birth Place: Salford, Lancs
Death Date: 2 Sep 1918
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Salford
Rank: Private
Regiment: Lancashire Fusiliers
Battalion: 10th Battalion
Number: 20023
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

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Alfred is remembered on the St Thomas, Pendleton, memorial.

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The 1918 absent voters list shows Alfred as being registered at 14 Lister St, Salford.

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We have approx 32 letters that we would like to transcribe if anyone would like to help please send me a message, or reply on this thread, and I will send a high resolution image. Some of the writing is difficult to read and dating the letters may also prove difficult, but with forum members help, hopefully, we can put the letters in chronological order.

This letter is sent from Morfa Camp, Conway, it seems to be one of the earliest letters. Alfred is in training with the 21st Lancashire Fusiliers.

From Pte Alf Wilkinson 20023
21st Batt’n Lancs Fusiliers Regt B coy
Address reply to No 8 Hut, Morfa Camp, Conway


Dear Ernest

In answer to your letter I am glad to hear you are getting on well with the electric and will soon have the home lit up. We are having a very rough time as we have two new instructors from Aldershot and if they cannot make soldiers of us nobody else can. We have to vault hurdles with your rifle and bayonet raised in the air and full pack on and it wants doing then you have to jump ten feet trenches and stick your bayonet in bags of sand and you would be surprised how hard it is. I know I nearly broke my neck first time in fact I cannot do it properly yet of course there is plenty worse than me. I have been on the range today and got four bulls out of five there was only one man beat me in my platoon and he has been in service before. Some never hit the target never mind the bull. The officer has tried me long distance firing and I am know {sic} use because I cannot see so they are teaching I and some more bomb throwing. Just fancy they have us doubling for about three miles before breakfast without shirts on and it is very cold until you get going. We are going from here somewhere in the south on the 15 that is a week on Friday. We are going to make a Brigade up and our CO has told us we will be across about December and I suppose he ought to know. We had a field day last Thursday to a place called Fairy Glen and my word we did sweat climbing up the mountains they dropped out like ?? sheep and the officers would not let us have any water. Well dear Ernest you can see what it is and I could tell you lots more. The men hear {sic} seem ?to get worse if any think {sic} by jingo I did join a right lot. We are getting poor ?? here but a soldier is not supposed to grumble in fact to never know ?? he is beat. Give my kind regards to all at home and the reason I put Alf is because there is another A Wilkinson here and my number is 20023 hoping you will drop me a line and understand that I am yours sincerely

Alfred

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Dear Eliza,

I am writing this to tell you we have just come out of the trenches I don’t know how long we are out for. We are staying in usual billets we are having grand weather. I see there as {sic} been an air raid over Folkestone and a good few have been killed. I hope our people will play the same game. But I suppose they guard there {sic} sea port towns better than us and our airmen get a warm time when they try anything of that sort. I haven’t much news to tell you only that I am alright and hope all at home are well and happy. We was all glad to get away from the sound of the guns I can tell you. I daresay by now you will be having nice weather. I see you have been whitewashing we are in a very nice country village but I am more than fed up, although we must keep on smiling and make the best of it. I would not have known it was Whit week only for your letter telling me so. I see our Alice is not forgotten I hope someday she will be able to tell me about it. I often think about you both and it will help me to keep in good spirits. If it was not for the hope of the war finishing someday and going back home most of us would soon be dead. Have you heard from Ernest. I see they are after Reuben. Well dear I will close give my respects to all and look after yourself.

Good Night and God Bless you and children.

From your loving
husband Alf

Folkestone suffered an air raid on the 25th of May 1917.

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Dear Eliza

I received your papers and I have just received your letter with safety blade in. We have been having it rough just lately we have done a lot of marching and we are right amongst the trouble again. I know things are very bad in Blighty and you must not go to much expense with parcels if you have anything to spare keep it for if I don’t go under the Government won’t give me much and if I get home we might need it. I used to see many tramps and felt sorry for them sometimes now I have more sympathy for myself and I am not a selfish sort of chap as you know, anyway we must carry on and try and make the best of it. I see you have got an apple tree the people here make them pay in fact it’s a splendid place for agriculture. I am afraid Delph isn’t an ideal place for anything in that line still there is some places not far away where you can make it pay. I believe you cannot get potatoes. I have managed to make two brews of cocoa and it was real good but you must not send any more only eatables as we are always moving and you seldom get a chance of hot water. I am glad you are feeling better and Alice is to {sic}. Well dear I think I have told you all this time. I hope you are able to grow something to eat in the garden and if you want to get a couple of figs do as you like. While I am writing this I can here {sic} the guns going. I see you had a letter returned. We have had a day or two nice weather now it is very cold and frosty. Well I must say good night give all friends my best respects and all at home God Bless you and children.

From your loving
husband Alf
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Dear Eliza,

Just a few lines to let you know how things are with me. I am in the line and had a fairly decent time so far. We have had some wet weather and it as made the trenches in a bad state but it soon dries up here. I see Ada as gone back and you ?? have some coming to the old folks. If you send me a parcel send me a safety blade also some harrisons. I haven’t much to write this time. We are kept fairly busy here as there is lots of work to do in the line. There is lots think the war will be over soon but no man breathing knows when that will be. Anyway all the Nations are more than fed up with it and we must hope for the best. I hope you have written to Ernest. Have you heard from Arthur and Sam lately. I believe when we have done our turn this time we go out for a rest for about a month or so. Well dear we must both keep smiling and make the best of a bad job. Give my respects to the old folks and love to the children, I hope Ena and Alice are agreeing with each other. You never tell me much about the garden you remember I told you I would have to show you how to do it ?? Good Night and God Bless you and kids.

From your loving husband
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Dear Eliza,

I have been in the front line of trenches I am now in the reserve. We go in again on Sunday night the front line I mean. We have lost some I cannot tell you how many. Dear I have been lucky I was buried up to my neck with earth through a shell bursting near. It as been hell for it is one of the hottest parts of the line and when you see them carry the dead and wounded past you feel well rotten. The first night we had a heavy bombardment and the other chaps was shivering with fear. I was grinning like a soft girl the other fellows looked so comical with there steel helmets and dirty faces and you could see the eyes shining with excitement. I couldn’t help but grin. It takes you different ways I suppose. One of the new draft shot himself in the leg. Well dear we must both thank God I am still alive and making the best of it. I cannot tell you more this time. I shall be glad of pomade and safety blades. Give my love to Ena and Alice. I will write more next time. Good Night and God Bless you.

All from your loving husband
Alf
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P.S. I hope all at Delph are alright and your Arthur is having a good time also Annie and I daresay by now you have got your sent money.

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Dear Eliza,
06/10
I have received your letter telling me about the children going to school. Well by the time you get this I shall be in Belgium where all the hard fighting is you see we have had a draft of three hundred and I am afraid it is over the top again next time as we are practising making an attack every day. My word from what you tell me things are rough at Delph I know the children’s shoes will soon go at Delph you should buy them boots instead of shoes they will last longer. Well dear as you say we are all fed up. There is not much chance of coming home on leave for a bit as they are only sending me a week now and there is a good few in front of me. I see your Ernest has been home. We are just starting the bad weather plenty of rain. We are going on the train tonight and we shall go in action at the hottest part of the Ypres front. If the worst should happen try to forget and you will have the children to comfort you. But let us hope I will come through alright. Anyway I know Frits is going to have a bad time of it in a day or two. John Bull was in the trenches at Arras but he only came in reserve. It is a miserable hole here cold and wet. I am sending you twenty francs in case I go under you will be able to change it at Cook Tourists or G.P.O. Manchester. Well dear I suppose we will have to both try and stick it. I see they are going to give a little more pay the men that just come up got 6? a day proficiency pay after six months while I have had to wait two years anyway we get a little more I believe. I am sorry to hear that you do not get much food never mind lass it won’t last forever and I thought you would have had a big drapers shop or else a poultry farm with the money you have saved from the Government. I don’t think you can keep that twenty francs without changing it because I get more money here for it. So keep it and you can send me it back again if the worst happens you can change it. Well its nothing but rain and mud here. Give my respects to all at home. I am still stretcher bearing and expect we will have lots to do. Good Night and God Bless you and children.

From your loving husband Alfxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Dear Eliza,
24/02

I write to tell you I have joined the Batt and I am billeted at a little farm it is very dirty and the woman sells us coffee and biscuits and is so busy hasn’t time to wash herself and hasn’t time to feed the pigs. She has four children and is a very nice woman as regards the French country people. There is a lot of new officers here some just out of the box and one of them brought me up for orders for not shaving in the morning (I shaved the night before) and I got 3 days C.B. I am fairly sick of it and it is miserable here we have no ?fires? here well I suppose I must make the best of it. Give all my respects to all at home and give Alice my love. I believe we go in the line in a few days. I sleep with a young lad just out here and there is not much room. Well dear I think I have told you all this time. I will let you know more latter. I am fairly fed up. I cannot tell you more you must look after yourself and keep on smiling. Hoping all at home are well and happy. Good Night dear and God Bless the children.

From your loving husband
Alfxxxxxxxxx

P.S. I send you a card and the words will let you understand about your Arthur and Sam and the lads.

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I am unable to find the second page of this letter.

Dear Eliza

15/02

I am going on alright so far. I am glad you have been able to get a load of coal. I know its hard to get in different parts of the country on account of having no men to bring it. The owners of the cottage seem to treat you fairly decent. I see your Sam likes Codford. The three Salford Batt was there. I never was. I believe from what I have been told its a big camp and very nice only a long way from any town. It will keep your Sam away from the girls I bet he looks better than he used to do that is if he gets anything like to eat. Henry is very foolish for not joining you know you can only die once and you have to die sometime. When you get settled if you care to send me a parcel don’t send any expensive cakes and if you cannot manage sugar a few cocoa tablets will do just send a few home made cakes or even a loaf if you like you understand don’t go to much expense. There are plenty of places around here YMCA but they have nothing to sell for the last three weeks not even a drink of tea. They cannot get stuff up just at present. Last night we had to get our gas helmets out as the Germans sent gas shells over and while I am writing this the same order as just come. Well lass the time is rolling on I have been out here this time nearly four months. I hope you won’t make eyes at Mrs Carters son remember your husband is here. I know you are proud of me and will expect me to air the sheets every night I go to bed I don’t think. Well dear I will be glad when it’s all over. I haven’t heard from Ernest yet I think I will write to Emily in a bit that is when I have time. I hope you will be successful in your gardening efforts, I hope the children are alright and Alice is not as much trouble as she used to be you must not spoil her that is if you

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08/04
Dear Eliza,

I write a few lines hoping you are in the best of health. I have got a bad cold just at present. We have been doing some more marching and we are close to the firing line. We have to break the German position and if its a success I expect we will have to do a lot of marching. Our pack is very heavy and we have to carry extra ammunition and a blanket besides, we are only allowed to drink a pint of water. If the worst happens you must not get down hearted but remember that I am not the only one. But we must not think of these things as you have a good sporting chance of coming through. I only tell you these things so you will be prepared as you never know your luck. We have a new officer come to my platoon, he comes from Oldham. I just missed being his servant. He seems a decent sort not smart he wears glasses he has been to Egypt. I am on guard and I have the chance to write this. We are getting very poor rations but what can you expect nowadays. If I get home a quiet life will do for me. I remember I used to want to travel and see things, I have had more than enough. Well lass we must both live in hope that it will be over someday. If it wasn’t looking forward to that most of us here would very soon be dead. They have been round for different trades and they have a group number in our pay book, they have put me in group ?B6? labourer. I expect its to see what the country needs most when its all over. The guard room here is a pig sty one of the best guard rooms I have been in. I hope all the boys are doing well and I hope your garden will soon be flowering. I hope Ena is well you never tell me about her maybe you don’t hear about her often. I see Alice will make room for me in bed. But I know you and her used to be glad when I had gone to work and you could have an extra hour. You must not get lonely just go to mothers and slip in to Mrs Schofield now and again. Today is Good Friday but it makes no difference. Today is cold but the sun is shining and it somehow makes you think of home and those that are there. You say you want a sewing machine the last one we got fairly done in. Anyway I hope you will be able to get one although I don’t see how you are going to manage it not 4£ anyway if you said about ?5s? I would tell you to get it. Well dear I think I have told all this time. You do the same as I live in hope. I cannot see how it can last such a long time now. I hope if I come home we can live outside. I should like a better place than Delph but still you cannot always choose. It’s a case of over the top with the best of luck with me very soon but it cannot be as bad as last July. We have been having a lot of new men the ?combing out? lads. Well lass I think I will close give my respects to the old folks and remember me to all friends. Good day dear and God bless you and children.

From your loving husband Alf
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Dear Eliza,

We are out of the line for seven days and we had an exciting time I can tell you. I see you are going to have Ena for good. I hope Alice will be better tempered anyway, I hope they don’t fall out. I see Delph is a failure. You must do what you think is best. We have been having wet weather as well as fine. I see they are now busy hay making and the landlord’s son is doing business on his own. I don’t see any signs of this game ending so we must do the best of a bad job. We are in tents here and you can see this place getting bigger every time, you can see I have been here before. I see some of my letters are open when you get them I daresay they get dry and come open. Try and send me a safety blade next letter if you can. I see the garden is a wash out well you cannot help it. Tell me how Sam and Arthur are going on. I see Russia is starting to do a bit again. I hope if you leave Delph you will go with some decent people I know Mr Burg?? would not recommend them otherwise. By the time you get this I will be about ready for the line again so you will understand if I don’t write for a day or two. When I get home I will be glad to have Ena with us. I am more than surprised that your Ada {is} getting tired of her. I often think about you all and as long as we are still living there is a good sporting chance of coming home again. Give my respects to all at home and don’t get fed up if you can help it look after yourself and trust in God. I know what it is to get fed up in fact I am but of course have to carry on. Good Night and God Bless you and children.

From your loving husband
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