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Pioneer - WILKINSON, KING, SGT. JOHN A.
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
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WILKINSON, KING SGT. John A.
, is of Scotch descent. He was b. in 1874 on lot 14, con.
3, Puslinch Tp. In 1889, at the age of 15, he entered Battery A. , Guelph. In
1891 he made at Kingston the best score in Canada with a nine-pound field gun,
for which performance he has a silver medal, of which he is justly proud. In
1892, at Niagara camp, King Sgt. Wilkinson, then Sergeant Wilkinson, was in
command of the sub-division which won the prize for stake driving (a Military
competition), wining from military teams from all over the country, and
defeating the regulars at Kingston, for which the company received individual
badges, and an additional prize of $25.. In 1894 he attended the School of
Gunnery at Kingston. In 1896 he was a member of the Canadian artillery team
which won the Queen's Prize at Shoeburyness. From 1896 to 1900 he was Sergeant
Major of Battery A., under Col., Nicoll. On Dec. 9, 1900, he enlisted with the
Canadian Mounted Rifles for South African service, and sailed on the Manhattan
from Halifax. He saw service in the Orange Free State, Cape Colony, and the
Transvaal being in operations under Co. Plummer, form Kroonstadt to Lindley,
and under Sir Walter Kitchener in the south-eastern part of the Transvaal. He
was in Pretoria and Johannesburg; was transferred to Klerksdorp, and was in
operations in the south-western part of the Transvaal, and northern part of
Cape Colony. On the 31st March , 1902 he was wounded in the arm by and
explosive bullet, losing the hand, and also losing his right eye, which was
struck by a piece of shell. He was also wounded in the body in a general
engagement near Hart's River. In this engagement of four and one-half hours'
fighting 126 men of the British force of 1,360 were killed and wounded, and 191
horses lost. The Boers lost 260 men out of a force of 2,400. He was placed in a
field hospital, and then invalided to England and kept in Netley Hospital for
two and one-half months. While at Netley he had a twenty minutes talk with
Queen Alexandra. He was recommended by Lord Kitchener for distinguished bravery
on the field and on the 30th April 1902, the title of King Sgt. was conferred
upon him by King Edward. He is the only one in Canada who holds this title. He
has also the South African service medal, with four bars and clasps. He was
away for two years and sixteen days. On his return to Guelph , on Jan 6, 1903,
he was honoured with a banquet and an address, and was presented with $125 in
gold by the people of Wellington Co., city of Guelph, and Puslinch Tp. For his
services he draws a pension for life from the British Government. In Sept.,
1903 he purchased 92 acres, front lot 12, Gore of Puslinch, and 10 acres across
the road on Beverly Tp. He has since resided on his Puslinch farm, upon which
he has built a first-class barn., which might be safely used as a model by the
farmers in the county. In Jan., 1905, he was elected to the Tp. Council. He is
a Presbyterian, and an Independent; very popular, and a valuable man to his
township.
From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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