Thomas Wilkinson (VC 1855)

He laid the sandbags under fire to protect the battery guns.

Thomas Wilkinson was born at York about 1830–1831. A labourer, he enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1850 and became a Royal Marine Artillery gunner. He served in HMS Britannia during the Crimean War, surviving a severe cholera outbreak on the voyage.

At Sevastopol on 7 June 1855, Wilkinson volunteered to repair protective earthworks at a forward battery under heavy fire. He strengthened the position and helped protect the guns and their crews. His conduct earned the Victoria Cross, presented at Hyde Park in June 1857.

Later promoted bombardier, he served in HMS Mohawk and Mersey before being invalided out in 1859. He subsequently worked as a sergeant instructor for auxiliary forces. After marriage in 1868 he settled in York and managed a sand yard. He died there on 22 September 1887 and was buried in York Cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation

Specially recommended for gallant conduct in the advanced Batteries, 7th June, 1855, in placing sand-bags to repair the work under a galling fire; his name having been sent up on the occasion, as worthy of special notice, by the Commanding Officer of the Artillery of the Right Attack. (Letter from Colonel Wesley, Deputy Adjutant-General, Royal Marines.)

Supplement to The London Gazette of 24 February 1857. 24 February 1857, Numb. 21971, p. 654