WILKINSON, Thomas George
| Service Numbers: | 427886, N28358 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 August 1936, Tom enlisted into the militia at 18 and 8 months in August of 1936. he was in the militia up until the war started then joined the AMF |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
| Born: | Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia, 18 November 1917 |
| Home Town: | Leichhardt, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bootmaker, labourer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Sydney New South Wales, Australia, January 2016 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Non Warlike Service
| 12 Aug 1936: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Post WW1), 427886, 18th Field Battery, Tom enlisted into the militia at 18 and 8 months in August of 1936. he was in the militia up until the war started then joined the AMF |
|---|
World War 2 Service
| 14 Aug 1940: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1940: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 2 Advanced Ordnance Depot | |
| 14 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N28358 | |
| 10 Feb 1945: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N28358, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | |
| 10 Feb 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N28358 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N28358, Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
Help us honour Thomas George Wilkinson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Christian Heslop
I don't really remember my pa Tom. I met him a lot but that's when I was little. Thomas George Wilkinson or just 'Tom' was born on the 18th of November 1917 to Jack and Macey Wilkinson.
Tom was one of 2 brothers and had 6 sisters. The family grew up in Leichhardt and was very poor. Jack was off as a magistrate up in rural areas of NSW apparently whenever Jack would come home he's stay for 5 nights get macey pregnant and leave again for another 6-10 months. The family was so cramped in their little cottage that Tom slept outside on a couch on the front porch.
During Tom's teen years he apparently went hunting with a mate and was goofing around when his mates rifle went off shooting Tom in the gut. Luckily it was a 22 cal and didn't do much damage to cause permanent injuries. Tom dropped out of school at age 14 to help his struggling family and when he enlisted, he listed his occupation as nailing machinist which I do not know is.
in the late 30's Tom met Jean Solomon, he was 5 years older but they hit it off and eventually got married in 1941. Jeans father Joseph had a Jewish grandfather and descended from Solomon Solomon, a peasant from Poland or Russia.
Tom enlisted on the 14th of august 1940 and listed his next of kin as jhon Wilkinson which was obviously a mistake. His brother John Edward or simply known as jacky enlisted on the 4th of February 1942. Tom and jackys younger sister Lucy enlisted on the 1st of October 1942, Tom and Lucy never left Australia during the war, jacky on the other hand served in Borneo.
Tom enlisted in the ordnance but it seems on his record he was the transferred to the AEME or commonly known as Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. My nan says that her dad could do anything if he put his mind to it, Tom's mate who he met in the army (forgot his name) dad's, George Howell was awarded the Victoria cross. His mate Howell also taught him to make boots in the army which he later did post war, making boots bags and anything involving leather.
My great grandpa Thomas Wilkinson died aged 98 in 2016. He left behind a legacy of a fun loving man who put others before himself.
Gone but not forgotten
supplied by Christian heslop, great grandson of Thomas George Wilkinson
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