World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British King George V on February 22, 1919 at Buckingham Palace in London, England for his actions as a private in the 1/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment of the British Army on October 20, 1918 at the Battle of the Selle, Marou, France during the Hundred Days Offensive near the end of World War I. Born in Leigh, Lancashire, England, he first enlisted in The Royal Scot Greys following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914. The following year he transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders and in July 1916 he transferred again to the 1/5 Manchester Regiment and was sent to the Western Front in France where he saw action at the Battle of the Somme. By the end of the war he attained the rank of lance corporal. He was discharged from the British Army and worked as a coal miner. After World War II broke out in September 1939, he joined the local Home Guard and became a special constable. He died at the Bickershaw Colliery coal mine in Leigh at the age of 43 due to carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the British War Medal (1914-20), the Victory Medal (1914-19), and the King George VI Coronation Medal (1937). His Victoria Cross Citation reads: "Marou, France, 20 October 1918, Private Alfred Robert Wilkinson, 1 / 5th Bn, The Manchester Regiment. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 20th October 1918, during the attack on Marou, when four runners in succession having been killed in an endeavour to deliver a message to the supporting company, Private Wilkinson volunteered for the duty. He succeeded in delivering the message, though the journey involved exposure to extremely heavy machine-gun and shell fire for 600 yards. He showed magnificent courage and complete indifference to danger, thinking only of the needs of his company and entirely disregarding any consideration for personal safety. Throughout the remainder of the day Private Wilkinson continued to do splendid work." His Victoria Cross and other medals are retained by the Lord Ashcroft Collection in the British Imperial War Museum, London, England.