CHARLES WILKINS 

Charles's Story.

Birkenhead News  10 March 1917

HIGHER BEBINGTON MAN KILLED

Respected Port Sunlight Worker

Mrs. Charles Wilkins, of School Lane, Higher Bebington, on Wednesday morning last received the sad news that her husband had been killed in action in France on the 25^th February. Soon after the outbreak of war Private Wilkins joined the Wirral Battalion together with a number of other “Sunlighters,” he having been employed at Messrs. Lever Bros. for eleven years. He was in training for little under a year when drafted abroad, and was soon in the thick of the fighting, being severely wounded in May last. He came home and went back on November 25^th last, and was killed in France as stated above.

Private Wilkins was in his 31^st year, and had lived in Higher Bebington almost all of his life. Being of a quiet though genial disposition he was well liked. At Port Sunlight he was in the frame room, and was highly regarded by his foreman and workmates. Just prior to his returning to France he jocularly remarked that he would soon be home again to return to his work at Port Sunlight “to complete the period for his watch,” which he was looking forward to wearing, for long service. Pte. Wilkins leaves a widow and two children, and also a widowed mother, dependent. He was a good father, kind husband, and affectionate son.

The above report from the Birkenhead News is reproduced word for word and although it states Charles was killed in action on February 25^th, he was actually killed on 17^th February.