Distinguished Conduct Medal EVIIR (67554 B:SJT:MAJ: H. WILKINS. 82ND BTY: R.F.A.); Queens South Africa Medal clasps Cape Colony. Transvaal, Wittebergen (67554 B.SGT.MAJ. H. WILKINS. 77TH BTY., R.F.A.); Kings South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 (67554 B.S.MAJ: H. WILKINS. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (CAPT. H. WILKINS. D.C.M. R.F.A.); British War Medal (CAPT. H. WILKINS.); Victory Medal (CAPT. H. WILKINS.)
Herbert Wilkins was born in Galway, Ireland in 1873. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery at Preston in 1888 when a mere boy of 15. Rising through the ranks, he was a Battery Sergeant-Major in the 77th and 82nd Batteries R.F.A. during the Boer War, seeing service with them in South Africa from 3 November 1899 until 12 May 1906 - four years after the cessation of hostilities. He was with the 77th Battery at Stromberg - one of the Black Week battles in December 1899 where the British forces were routed by the Boers. It was whilst serving with the 82nd Battery that he was awarded the D.C.M. for his services.
His papers show that he was seconded to the Diamond Fields Artillery (Kimberley) at some point as an Instructor but this was after the qualifying period for the Defence of Kimberley clasp and the Siege was already long over. He was with his Battery in the Brandwater Basin area of the eastern Orange Free State which is where Boer General Prinsloo and over 4000 men were hemmed in and surrendered in July 1900. It was noted that the 82nd Battery was referred to by Lord Roberts in his dispatch "In the operations against Prinsloo the 82nd were of great assistance on 20th and 21st July at the taking of Spitzkop by the Camerons and afterwards at Naauwpoort Nek."
Having returned from South Africa he was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1907 and was discharged from the Army on 8 June 1909 - after 21 years service. His Proceedings on Discharge form mentioned that he was "A hard working, well educated man, good clerk and accountant, thoroughly honest and suitable as a Commissionaire."
Before the Great War erupted onto the world stage on 4 August 1914 he was employed by the R.S.P.C.A. and lived at 33 North Denes Road, Great Yarmouth. He re-enlisted during the Great War and was granted a commission in 1915, being posted to France on 22 November of that year. Captain Wilkins was demobilised on 20 September 1919. His sister, Mrs B. Iddeson, of 26 Coronation Street, Seaforth (near Liverpool) enquired his whereabouts from the authorities in December 1930 - stating that he was last heard of in France in 1916, serving in Lord Derby's Pals. She wrote again in 1931 at which point the reply she received stated that he had been discharged on 20 May 1919 and that he had died on Jersey, Channel Islands on 30 July 1929. (Sandringham Hotel)
His D.C.M. appeared in the London Gazette of 27 September 1901 and his M.I.D. in the London Gazette of 10 September 1901 (Robert’s despatch on 4 September 1901).
With some copied War Office papers including letters from his sister requesting his whereabouts. Also with copied gazette extracts and other research. Medals are all correctly named with the DCM named upside down.
