Peter W. Wilkinson

Peter William Wilkinson, MC, (born 10 December 1922), informally called Sam Wilkinson, is a British soldier, accountant and author.

Education

Wilkinson was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, between 1936 and 1940.

War service

He enlisted in the Royal Artillery by the special entry scheme on 7 March 1942 and was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in March 1942. He then joined the 458th Independent Light Battery RA (which a year later was expanded into the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment RA) and saw active service in World War II in North Africa, then in Italy, at Arnhem (Operation Market Garden), and in Norway. He was Command Post Officer of the 3rd Airlanding Light Battery RA at Arnhem. In September 1945 he transferred from the Royal Artillery to join 652 Squadron of the Royal Air Force as an Air Observation Post officer and served with them in Germany until October 1946.

Business career

After 1946, Wilkinson became a Chartered accountant and then Chief Executive of a major building society. He retired in 1983 to East Haddon, Northamptonshire.

Publications

*"The Gunners at Arnhem" (with Foreword by Brigadier M.D.K. Dauncey, Spurwing Publishing, Northampton, 1999) ISBN 0953575403

Honours

*Military Cross, 1944

References

* [http://www.unithistories.com/officers/1AirbDiv_officersW.htm 1st British Airborne Division at Arnhem]
* [http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/credits.htm Books about Arnhem at pegasusarchive.org]

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