Brigadier Claude John (Jack)
Wilkinson DSO on 18 December 1999, aged 95.
At a packed thanksgiving and memorial service held at St
Nicholas Parish Church, North Walsham, Maj Gen Sir David
Thorne KBE CVO spoke on behalf of The Royal Norfolk
Regt and Maj Tim Byron MC for the Leicesters.
Jack Wilkinson was a magnificent English gentleman whose
coffin was appropriately draped with the Union Flag. The
last Colonel of The Royal Norfolk Regiment, he was a
quiet and humble man of deep character yet a titan in
battle who came into his own in war. He proved himself
without doubt to be one of the outstanding battalion
commanders of the Burma Campaign. He led by the
authority of his professionalism, clear mind, stoic
courage and steely endurance. Among a breed of men whose
ethic is to serve to lead, he was loved by his men and
deeply respected by his Regiment. For him, the Regiment
was his home. He served in 13 countries and 5
continents. Born in 1903, after Greshams he was
commissioned into The Norfolk Regiment in January 1924,
serving in Jamaica, Cyprus, Egypt, Shanghai and Malaya. |
After a
short tour of duty at The Depot in Norwich, he was
Adjutant of the 1st Bn in India 1932-5.
At 33 years of age Jack was a very senior Major and was
seconded by the Colonial Office and served for 3 years
with the Palestine Police supervising their weapon
training. On the outbreak of war, he joined 2 Queens at
the end of the Syria campaign then 2 Royal Leicesters in
besieged Tobruk. It was a standing order that any
officer joining the regiment in Tobruk should bring a
bottle of whisky and a carton of flea powder. |
In 1943 Jack took command of 2 Royal
Leicesters. The 16 Bde route from India into Burma on a
mountainous route was said to be impassable. But Jack
Wilkinson and his Leicesters were not to be stopped and
they led the Bde throughout the estimated 150 miles to
the Chindwin. This 400 yard wide tributary of the
Irrawaddy was crossed by 600 men and 100 mules by
improvised boats, rafts and swimming to earn from
General Wingate the tribute: "Well done the
Leicesters. Hannibal eclipsed."
In Burma in 1944, during the operations of Gen Wingate’s
Special Forces, his Bn showed at Indaw that their
organisation, training and fitness after their long
march was exceptional. Here, the extraordinary fighting
spirit of their Commanding Officer, Jack Wilkinson, was
to prove of inestimable importance. The high morale of 2
Leicesters at Indaw, and in subsequent actions, was a
measure of the man who had led them. Jack was wounded
and battled with a smashed arm for much of the Indaw
battle and triumphed through sheer willpower and
endurance. He was awarded the DSO. His 1944 confidential
report stated: "he is scornful of
difficulties" and Bernard Ferguson, his
Brigade Commander, recommended him for immediate command
of a Brigade. From 1944-47 he commanded a series of
Special Forces and Parachute Brigades in India. He was
Commandant of the Small Arms School in Hythe from
1947-49 and Commander of 4th Guards Bde in the Rhine
Army, which included 1 Royal Norfolk, from 1949-50. Jack
became Colonel of The Royal Norfolk Regiment from 1951
to 1959 and concluded his service as Commander 149 (West
Riding) Infantry TA Brigade in Yorkshire before retiring
to his farm near North Walsham in 1953. In a 1994
conversation about his Chindit Campaign, Jack summarised
it: "We met the Japs, had a rather untidy battle
and won that round."
Jack Wilkinson took an active supportive interest in all
the affairs of the Leicesters and The Royal Norfolk
Regiment until the last two years of his long life. He
and his wife Judith took a close interest in the local
community. The church and the rugby club benefited from
their interest and generosity. Always at the heart of
his home life was his animals, especially his horse.
Jack had been a good sportsman throughout his life,
enjoying rugby, polo and hockey. Men like Jack Wilkinson
give strength and a sense of sure direction for the
generations that follow. He is remembered by his friends
with gratitude and respect.
Jack Wilkinson was pre-deceased by his wife Judith and
left no close relations.
(See Britannia No 39 May 52 p5 concerning the
appointment of Brig Jack to Colonel, The Royal Norfolk
Regt and click here for a personal reminiscence.
Ed) |
|
