Thomas Orde Lawder Wilkinson was born on 29 June 1894 at Lodge Farm on the Dudmaston Estate near Bridgnorth in Shropshire, England.

He was the second son of parents Charles Orde Wilkinson and his wife Edith.

Thomas was educated at Parkside School, Surrey and Wellington College, Berkshire. While at school, Thomas was noted for his academic and athletic prowess.

After graduating in 1912, the Wilkinsons emigrated to Canada, settling in Vancouver, British Columbia. Thomas’ father had been working there at the time of his birth.

Two years after the Wilkinsons had settled in Canada, the First World War broke out in Europe.

Thomas, who had been working as a surveyor when the British Empire declared war on Imperial Germany, enlisted in the Canadian armed forces.

Initially joining the 16^th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), he was soon commissioned as a Lieutenant and travelled to England where he was transferred to the 7^th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in the British Army.

By 1916, Thomas was serving on the Western Front as a gunner officer.

The 7^th Battalion was part of the 56^th Brigade, 19^th Division, and one of many units thrown onto the bloodsoaked battlefields of the Somme.

On 4 July 1916, during the battle’s early stages, the 7^th Battalion was involved in the attack on La Boisselle.

A unit nearby had conceded ground, so Thomas and the 7^th were ordered to retake it. In the advance, a machine gun was left behind which Thomas manned as soon as he reached the position.

Firing into an advancing German infantry unit, Thomas was able to hold up his opponents until reinforcements arrived. Sadly, Thomas was killed shortly after, attempting to bring a wounded man into cover.

For his actions at La Boiselle, Thomas was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military honour.

His medal citation, published in the 26 September 1916, gives the following details:

“For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack, when a party of another unit was retiring without their machine-gun, Lieut. Wilkinson rushed forward, and, with two of his men, got the gun into action, and held up the enemy till they were relieved.

“Later, when the advance was checked during a bombing attack, he forced his way forward and found four or five men of different units stopped by a solid block of earth, over which the enemy was throwing bombs.

“With great pluck and promptness he mounted a machine-gun on the top of the parapet and dispersed the enemy bombers.

“Subsequently he made two most gallant attempts to bring in a wounded man, but at the second attempt he was shot through the heart just before reaching the man.

“Throughout the day he set a magnificent example of courage and self-sacrifice.”

Thomas’ body was never recovered. He is commemorated alongside more than 72,000 Commonwealth servicemen on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.