For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack, when a party of another unit was retiring without their machine-gun, Lieut. Wilkinson rushed forward, and, with two of his men, got the gun into action, and held up the enemy till they were relieved. Later, when the advance was checked during a bombing attack, he forced his way forward and found four or five men of different units stopped by a solid block of earth, over which the enemy was throwing bombs.

With great pluck and promptness he mounted a machine-gun on the top of the parapet and dispersed the enemy bombers. Subsequently he made two most gallant attempts to bring in a wounded man, but at the second attempt he was shot through the heart just before reaching the man.

Throughout the day he set a magnificent example of courage and self-sacrifice.

Son of Charles Orde Wilkinson and Edith Wilkinson, of Ardanoir, Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, he was born on June 29, 1894 in Bridgnorth, Salop, England, Wilkinson was educated at Wellington College where he shone both academically and athletically – as prefect of the school and captain of the gymnasium. Prior to World War I, the Wilkinson family moved to Canada and when the conflict broke out he joined the 16th Battalion, Canadian Scottish. After his arrival in England, he transferred to the 7th Bn., the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment with the rank of Lieutenant as a gunnery officer.