William Wilkins

Story:
William Wilkins was born in Minchington, Dorset, on 30 Aug 1894 and baptised at Farnham, Dorset, on 9 Oct 1894 the son of William John Wilkins and Annie Emma Wilkins (nee Bennett).  He lived his early life in the area including Newtown, Farnham, Dorset.    His father died in 1912.   He had enlisted with the Dorset (Queens Own) Yeomanry Territorials as a Private (Service No. 1124).  It appears he was not embodied into the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 334556) until 1 Mar 1916 and sent to Broadstairs, Kent, but was temporarily discharged on 26 May 1916.  Following the introduction of the Class W reserves in June 1916, which protected those soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country rather than military employment, William was transferred to that catagory on 29 Aug 1916 and remained on reserve thereafter until formally discharged on 14 Dec 1918.  There are no medal records. He married Maud Elizabeth Coward at St. Lawrence Church, Farnham, Dorset, on 10 May 1920.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Lodge Farm Cottages, Nr. Kingston Lacey, Dorset, working as a Rabbit Trapper.  His death was recorded in Chippenham, Wiltshire, during 1983.  His brother, Percival Wilkins, also served and survived the conflict.