Capt M L PILKINGTON MC - LRDG

Paul Johnson · 03-03-2004, 10:56 PM

CAPTAIN Mark Leslie PILKINGTON MC THE LIFE GUARDS & LRDG
76537. KIA 18/11/42 aged 28.
Mark was born on the 12th January 1914 the son of Captain Herbert Charles Pilkington & Ruth Pilkington. He was educated at Eton College and in 1938 had been the prospective conservative candidate for East Woolwich. Later he married his wife Susan and was described as a man who had a vague desultory manner which concealed a gentleness and dislike of aggressive pompous individuals. Later in 1938 he joined the Life Guards Special Reserve and went with a composite unit of the Household Cavalry to the Middle East in 1940. In 1941 he volunteered for service in the Abyssinian campaign when he was with guerrilla units from Ethiopia engaged in fighting the Italians at Gondar and in this he proved to be both hardy and gallant in a campaign led by a very few British officers. Later, Mark was attached to the headquarters of the Arab Legion under Glubb Pasha in Transjordan in a campaign against Raschid Ali. It was whilst serving here that he volunteered form service with the Long Range Desert Group and was to be attached to them for a month. Mark was killed by Italian fighter aircraft in Wadi Tamet 50 miles from the coast near El Ageila and Marble Arch in Tripolitania. He was manning a machine gun, either a Bren or a Lewis, when his patrol was attacked on the way from Kufra to Birtala, a one thousand mile journey behind enemy lines. He was awarded a posthumous Military Cross on the 8th July 1943. The entry for the London Gazette reads, "For gallant & Distinguished services in East Africa & Madagascar. Mark is buried in Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya. (10.H.3)

Does anyone have any further detail on this man's military career, the award of his MC and/or a photograph?

Your help would be appreciated.

Regards

PAUL JOHNSON

Paul Reed · 04-03-2004, 01:50 PM

Have you tried contacting Eton?

They have good records on old boys, particularly those killed in the two World Wars. There was also a school magazine, which may well have had photos in it by WW2.

Paul Johnson · 04-03-2004, 06:48 PM

Paul,

Thanks for the tip. I will give them a try to see if they have anything on him.

Regards

PAUL JOHNSON

03-03-2004, 10:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul Johnson Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Herts - UK Posts: 85	CAPTAIN Mark Leslie PILKINGTON MC THE LIFE GUARDS & LRDG 76537. KIA 18/11/42 aged 28. Mark was born on the 12th January 1914 the son of Captain Herbert Charles Pilkington & Ruth Pilkington. He was educated at Eton College and in 1938 had been the prospective conservative candidate for East Woolwich. Later he married his wife Susan and was described as a man who had a vague desultory manner which concealed a gentleness and dislike of aggressive pompous individuals. Later in 1938 he joined the Life Guards Special Reserve and went with a composite unit of the Household Cavalry to the Middle East in 1940. In 1941 he volunteered for service in the Abyssinian campaign when he was with guerrilla units from Ethiopia engaged in fighting the Italians at Gondar and in this he proved to be both hardy and gallant in a campaign led by a very few British officers. Later, Mark was attached to the headquarters of the Arab Legion under Glubb Pasha in Transjordan in a campaign against Raschid Ali. It was whilst serving here that he volunteered form service with the Long Range Desert Group and was to be attached to them for a month. Mark was killed by Italian fighter aircraft in Wadi Tamet 50 miles from the coast near El Ageila and Marble Arch in Tripolitania. He was manning a machine gun, either a Bren or a Lewis, when his patrol was attacked on the way from Kufra to Birtala, a one thousand mile journey behind enemy lines. He was awarded a posthumous Military Cross on the 8th July 1943. The entry for the London Gazette reads, "For gallant & Distinguished services in East Africa & Madagascar. Mark is buried in Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya. (10.H.3) Does anyone have any further detail on this man's military career, the award of his MC and/or a photograph? Your help would be appreciated. Regards PAUL JOHNSON __________________ Frederick Arthur Lowry - ARP - Killed On Duty - 18th October 1940 Marguerite Beatrice Burge - WAAF - Murdered 30th January 1943. Iris Miriam Deeley - WAAF - Murdered 14th February 1944. Winifred Mary Evans - WAAF - Murdered 9th November 1944. http://www.stevenageatwar.com/

04-03-2004, 01:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,599	Have you tried contacting Eton? They have good records on old boys, particularly those killed in the two World Wars. There was also a school magazine, which may well have had photos in it by WW2. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

04-03-2004, 06:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Johnson Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Herts - UK Posts: 85	Paul, Thanks for the tip. I will give them a try to see if they have anything on him. Regards PAUL JOHNSON __________________ Frederick Arthur Lowry - ARP - Killed On Duty - 18th October 1940 Marguerite Beatrice Burge - WAAF - Murdered 30th January 1943. Iris Miriam Deeley - WAAF - Murdered 14th February 1944. Winifred Mary Evans - WAAF - Murdered 9th November 1944. http://www.stevenageatwar.com/

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