Chaplains
Honourary Captain Samuel Wilkinson, a Methodist minister, served with the 79th Battalion, 67th Pioneer Battalion, 4th Canadian Divisional Train, 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, and finally No 15 Canadian General Hospital during the Great War.
Born in Tobley, Chesire, England, his family immigrated to Canada in 1870 and settled at Ingersoll, Ontario. He arrived in Manitoba in 1881 and settled at Foxwarren, married to Nellie Gertrude Wilkinson of Brandon, Manitoba. They had two girls, Ida Gertrude and Blanche Margaret.
79th Battalion
On 17 April 1916, Captain Wilkinson passed his medical exam in Brandon, Manitoba. He was just under six feet tall, 190 pounds, with good physical development at 40 years of age.
The 79th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. George Clingan. After sailing to England in June 1916, the 79th Battalion absorbed into the 17th Reserve Battalion on July 12, 1916.
Prior to proceeding overseas, Captain Samuel Wilkinson attached to the 67th Pioneer Battalion.
67th Pioneer Battalion
The 67th Pioneer Battalion had left Bramshott Camp on 13 August 1916, bound for France. Active Machine gun fire greeted the ‘Western Scots’ upon their arrival at the front on 20 August 1916.
Captain Wilkinson proceeded overseas to the 67th Battalion in February of 1917. Wilkinson presided over a funeral for 65 men shortly after the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
4th Canadian Divisional Train
Following the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Captain Samuel Wilkinson attached to the 4th Canadian Divisional Train on 2 May 1917.
3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital
Ceases being attached to 4th Canadian Divisional Train on proceeding to 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, 20 November 1917. ToS of No 3 CSH on 21 December 1917.
Wilkinson transferred to England for duty and detached to Canadian General Depot, Shorncliffe, 23 April 1918. The following month, the main building of No. 3 CSH struck by a bomb during the air raid of 29/30 May 1918.
Two officers, 3 Nursing Sisters, 9 Other Ranks plus 7 Other Ranks attached were killed. All buried on 30 May 1918. Bishop Michael Francis Fallon who had been visiting the station, presided over the funeral.
Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital
SoS from the General Depot, and attached to No 15 Canadian General Hospital (Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross), Taplow on 29 April 1918. Ceases to be attached to on 24 June 1918, in order to embark for Canada.
International Baseball at Swansea, South Wales, in aid of Prisoners of War fund on 4 May 1918. Result, Canada 13, USA 3.
SoS Chaplain Services on Compassionate Grounds, 3 July 1918.
Memorable Manitobans
After returning from the war, appointed as a Pastor to Souris (1922), with subsequent postings at Gordon Methodist (1922-1924), Gladstone (1924), and Treherne United, before returning to Winnipeg as the Assistant Minister (1936-1940) to Rev. W. E. Donnelly at Young United Church, after which he retired.
He was also President of the Manitoba Conference (1923-1924), Chairman for both the Portage District and Dauphin District, Chaplain of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons, and a member of the Masons and the Gladstone Board of Trade.
Wilkinson died at his Winnipeg residence, 157 Chestnut Street, on 25 November 1941 and buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
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