Henry Douglas Wilkin

Captain Henry Douglas Wilkin ,  RN  June 1912

Thank you to the wonderful gents in 'The Great War' Forum for all their help in identifying the above guy

UPDATE

I have had an email from Henry's grand daughter:-

I was brought up on stories of my grandfather’s heroism – in 1900 he saved the crew of a British ship floundering in the South China Sea after a typhoon and on another occasion dived into shark infested waters to save two of his crew who had fallen overboard for which he received the DSO. He ended his Naval career as an Admiral but sadly as he died in 1932 – eighteen years before I was born - I never met him. He was stationed in Belfast during the first world war and lived at Graymount House in Greencastle (now a school I believe). It was there that his daughter Maureen, my mother, was born in 1915. I am pleased that you found his photograph and now you know a little more about him.

Very best wishes     Anne Grinyer

MARRIAGES
Captain H. D. Wilkin, R.N., and Miss Elfrida Iveson
The marriage took place yesterday, at Brompton Parish Church, of Captain H. D. Wilkin, D.S.O., R.N., only son of the late Major H. J. Wilkin, 11th and 7th Hussars, and Mrs. Wilkin, and Miss Elfrida Iveson, younger daughter of the late Mr. Egbert Iveson, of Charters, Ascot.  The bride wore a gown of mauve cameleon taffetas trimmed with embroidery and point d'Alencon.  She was given away by her uncle, Mr. Alan Bower.  Mr. Ernest Brudenell-Bruce was best man.  There was a reception at the Sloane-gate Hotel.

VICE-ADMIRAL H. D. WILKIN
Vice-Admiral Henry Douglas Wilkin, C.B.E., D.S.O., retired, died at Malaga on January 8, after a brief illness, at the age of 67.  Vice-Admiral Wilkin has an eventful career.  The son of Major H. J. Wilkin, 11th and 7th Hussars, he was born at Umbala, India, on March 27th, 1862.  He was a midshipman of the Superb at the bombardment of Alexandria in July, 1882, and was landed with the Naval Brigade during the occupation of Alexandria and Ramleh, receiving the Egyptian medal with Alexandria clasp, and the Khedive's bronze star.  He became a sub-lieutenant in May, 1883, and two years later won the silver medal of the R.N. Lifeboat Institution and the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society for diving overboard from H.M.S. Rapid at Cape Coast Castle and supporting two men until a boat arrived.  He was promoted to lieutenant in June, 1886, and in 1888-91 served in H.M.S. Gannet in the Mediterranean.  During the winter of 1891-2 he was lieutenant and commander of the gunboat Widgeon, Cape Station, during the Gambia River expedition to Vintang Creek.  In the following May he was executive officer of the sloop Racer, and took part in the second Gambia River expedition.  He was landed in command of a Naval Brigade from the Racer, Sparrow, and Alecto, in conjunction with a battalion of the West India Regiment, under Colonel Ellis, and took part in the operations resulting in the capture of Fort Toniataba.
He was awarded the D.S.O. in January, 1893, in recognition of his African services, but not until December, 1900, was he promoted to commander.  By that time he had taken part in the South African War as lieutenant and commander of the Sparrow, gunboat, which he joined in July, 1896.  He had also served in command of the destroyer Olter (Otter) at Hong-Kong, when in November, 1900, she went to the rescue of the river gunboat Sandpiper during a typhoon.  He was able to take off the officers and crew before the vessel sank.  In May, 1901, Wilkin became commander of the battleship Benbow, at Greenock; and in January, 1904, he commissioned the sloop Clip at Sheerness for the Australian Station.  In her he conveyed the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific to the Tongan Islands to settle certain affairs, and was thanked by the Admiralty and Colonial Office for the services he rendered there.  Later the Clio was moved to the China Station, and in December, 1905, Wilkin was in command of the naval forces landed at Shanghai for the suppression of riots, remaining ashore for 17 days.  He was promoted to captain in June, 1907, and in this grade he commanded the cruisers Hawke and Antrim before he retired on August, 9, 1913.
At the mobilization for War in August, 1914, Captain Wilkin was appointed to H.M.S. Ganges as Assistant to the Senior Naval Officer, Harwich.  Six months later he was appointed Senior Naval Officer at Belfast, and served there until the naval base was demobilized in 1919.  In September, 1919, he was gazetted C.B.E. in recognition of services during the War.  Promotion to rear-admiral on the retired list was granted him in October, 1918, and to vice-admiral in July, 1924.  He married in 1913, Elfrida, youngest daughter of Mr. Egbert Iveson, of Ascot, and had one son and two daughters.  In 1920 he was appointed a J.P. for the West Riding of Yorkshire.  He was keen on outdoor life, and fond of shooting and hunting.

Lance-Corporal R. Angus (Killed)
Lance Cpl. R. Angus, who was killed in France on 9th July was a native of the North of Ireland, and his parents reside at Bangor, near Belfast. He came to Irvine about 3½ years ago, and prior to joining the Army about half a year ago he was employed in Messrs. Alex. Walker's chemical works and was well known in the harbour district of the ?. He was 22 years of age, and was unmarried.  He had two brothers in the Army, one of whom was killed on 1st July.    (all three died in 1916)

THE ULSTER DIVISION
N. BELFAST VOLUNTEER KILLED

Official intimation was received on Sunday that Rifleman John Gibson, 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (North Belfast Volunteers), was killed on January 31st in France.  Deceased was 23 years of age and a member of the North Belfast Regiment, U.V.F.  He was one of the first to enlist in the Ulster Division, and was formerly employed at Jennymount Spinning Company.  His widowed mother resides at 17 Lilliput Street, Belfast, and she has received some particulars of her son's death in a letter from Rev. J. Quinn, chaplain, who in the course of his letter writes:-
     Your son was on duty in the trenches yesterday when he was struck about the head by a splinter from a bursting shell, and I greatly regret to say, killed.  I am very sorry for you and all dear to him.  Please accept my sincere sympathy.  May the Most High comfort you in your sad affliction and make you strong to bear your grief.  Your son's life has been short, but he has done something with it.  He has helped the country by the service he has rendered in the overthrow of wrong doing by a nation and the establishment of a securer freedom for our country and Empire.  We buried your son to-day in a cemetery for British soldiers, near to the trenches and close to some of his former comrades, and a number of men from his battalion were present.  The position of the grave will be carefully recorded and a wooden cross will mark it.