Thomas Wilkinson (VC 1942)

Thomas Wilkinson
Born (1898-08-01)1 August 1898
Widnes, Lancashire
Died 14 February 1942(1942-02-14) (aged 43)
Java Sea
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Rank Lieutenant
Unit Royal Navy Reserve
Commands held HMS Li Wo
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Victoria Cross (posthumous)

Thomas Wilkinson VC (1 August 1898 14 February 1942) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Wilkinson was 43 years old, and a temporary lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 14 February 1942 in the Java Sea, off Malaya, HMS Li Wo, a patrol vessel, formerly a passenger steamer, commanded by Lieutenant Wilkinson, sighted two enemy convoys, one escorted by Japanese warships, The lieutenant told his crew he had decided to engage the convoy and fight to the last in the hope of inflicting some damage, a decision that drew resolute support from the whole ship's crew. In the action that followed, a Japanese transport was set on fire and abandoned, and Li Wo engaged a heavy cruiser for over an hour before being hit at point-blank range and sunk. Lieutenant Wilkinson ordered his crew to abandon ship, but he went down with Li Wo.[1]

His VC is in the Imperial War Museum.

Gallery

References

  1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37819. p. 6125. 13 December 1946. Retrieved 28 January 2012.

External links


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