5682457 Pte (William) Sidney WILKINS, 2nd Ox & Bucks: 07/06/1944, Escoville, Normandy

Hello Everyone !
In 1944 my family owned the Chateau d’Escoville. Recently, I red in the 2nd Ox and Bucks war diary that the chateau should have become the Batallion HQ on june 7th. But, as you certainly know, the fighting with elements of the 21st Panzer was so violent that the british had to withdraw in the afternoon and many men were killed or were injured.
Unless I’m mistaken, all british soldiers killed that day have been buried in Herouvillette communal cemetery (and, maybe, in Ranville War Cemetery too…). But, ONE Ox and Bucks soldier – Private Sidney (William) Wilkins, from Kingswood, Bristol – was buried in Escoville, in the little churchyard.
Could someone tell me more about PVT Wilkins : his (too short) life, the circumstances of his death, why his body hasn’t been buried in Herouvillette with his brothers in arms ?
I tried to find a picture of Pvt Wilkins, but in vain. Could someone find one ? I think that it could be important for the population of Escoville to put a face to that – lonely – name.
Thanks a lot for your help !
Franck

 

I've edited Pvt to Pte in the title as he was British & not American

 

For the record, full CWGC details & link:
Private William Sydney Wilkins | War Casualty Details 2633474 | CWGC
PRIVATE WILLIAM SYDNEY WILKINS
Service Number: 5682457
Regiment & Unit: 2nd (Airborne) Bn.
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Date of Death: 07 June 1944
Age 22 years old
Buried or commemorated at ESCOVILLE CHURCHYARD
Location: France
Additional Info: Son of William and Florance M. Wilkins, of Kingswood, Gloucestershire.
Personal Inscription: GOD GRANT ETERNAL REST

 

Isn't there a law which prohibits removal of remains from Churchyards in France?

Regards ...

 

Keynsham marriages, Dec 1917
William Wilkins
Florence M Hepburn

(William's given occupation _ Sapper, R.E.)

Children
Wilkins, Edna M - Hepburn - Keynsham - Mar 1920
Wilkins, William S - Hepburn - Bristol - Mar 1922


1939 Register
410 Soundwell Road, Two Mile Hill, Bristol, Gloucestershire

Name - Birth date - Occupation - Marital status
William Wilkins - 01 Jun 1877 - Labourer - Married
Florence Wilkins - 31 Oct 1881 - Unpaid Domestic Duties - Married
Edna M Lambden (Wilkins) - 16 Jan 1920 - Corset Worker - Single
William S Wilkins - 01 Feb 1922 - Labourer - Single

 

Hi Owen ! You did well. I never noticed before this difference between the british and the american.

 

Hi DBF ! I already had a look at this webpage and I'd like to get more information (as I wrote : pictures, company, circumstances of his death, why he was buried alone in Escoville ...). Anyway thanks a lot for your reply and your reactivity !

 

Hi Cee !
No, absolutely not. There must be another reason. I tried to ask for some of the inhabitants of Escoville, but, so far, in vain. In the area, only old people could provide information, and there are fewer and fewer of them... And it's the same problem with Ox and Bucks veterans. :-(

 

Hi Harkness !
Thanks for your help. It's interesting to know that Pte William S Wilkins was a labourer.
What other leads could you suggest to me to answer my other questions?

 

My understanding is if a soldier is initially buried in a French Churchyard (usually by local people) his body remains there and is not moved to a military cemetery post war. Something to look into. There are examples of other Airborne men buried in Churchyards who are still there to this day,

Regards ...

 

Hi Chuck, i fully agree with you.
In very occasionnal cases the deaths are recorded in the village death record book held at the village hall (Mairie).
This was the case in my home village, Saint Vaast En Auge.
There , in June 1944, the mayor recorded the deaths of the 12 men buried in the local churchyard.
I have not seen that in other villages yet about DDay fatal casualties.
Regards,

 

I realise you want more but it really does help to have as much detail as possible about the casualty available in the same place (including Army number and NOK). Not only for others who might be willing to conduct searches on your behalf but also for search engines which could attract relatives here - relatives who might have and be willing to share photos...

Good luck.

 

You're absolutely right ... Thanks again for your help !!!

 

Thank you for your insight Cee.

 

Memory Tracks,

I looked for his sister (from Post 4), Edna May Wilkins and found she was married in 1941, becoming a Lambden. He husband being Jack. She died in April 2012 in Bristol, there is full funeral notice taken from a local Bristol paper; which lists all her children etc. Plus a phone number for the undertakers

See the notice on: Click here to view the tribute page for Edna May LAMBDEN

The number for the undertakers is 0117 956 2834 and they do not have their own website. See: Roy Preddy Funeral Directors in Mangotsfield | Dignity Funerals (no email listed).

Perhaps the undertakers will help contacting the family? If not a letter / email to the local newspaper 'The Bristol Post' asking for help could work? See: Bristol Live - latest local news, sport & business from Bristol

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks again David ! You're a fantastic bloodhound

 

Often, the burial in a cemetery was simply an expedient method of dealing with the body, and the necessary Army hierarchy would be notified, with the expectation of the remains being recovered after the war. However, many communes petitioned the CWGC to keep the deceased soldier's grave in their local cemetery on the understanding that they would take care of it. This did occur, but as time has gone by, and the original inhabitants have passed away, the knowledge of the agreement with the CWGC has gotten lost and some of these "lone graves" are only visited once every 3 years by the CWGC, and are in poor shape with greenery growing up around the headstone.

Regards, Revd Thomas Wilson