Malcolm Wilkinson was born in Dewsbury and spent his younger years in Overton, Wakefield.

Always interested in the Army, in 1961 he joined the TA as a Boy Bugler in the 4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. During his time with the 4th, he had the honour of meeting and talking to Her Majesty The Queen Mother during her visit to Pontefract Barracks.

Army service beckoned, so, leaving the TA, Malcolm joined up as a regular in 1961 in the RASC as a Driver. Following basic and driver training, he was posted to 17 Heavy Transport Company, Wrexham Barracks, Müllheim, Germany.

Following the reorganisation of the RASC into the RCT, he was posted to Southampton on shipping. He saw active service when the unit was sent to Aden in 1965 during the insurgency, where he stayed until the Army pulled out.

Returning to Southampton saw him revert to his duties as a Driver and Dog Handler. Whilst there, he sailed on LSL Sir Galahad, later renowned for its iconic role in the Falklands War. Malcolm retired from the Army in 1968.

Joining the Spenborough Branch of The Legion in 2010, Malcolm was elected to the office of Branch Vice-Chairman in 2011. The photograph above shows him at the Dedication of the Remembrance Garden at Cleckheaton Town Hall in November 2011.

Malcolm Wilkinson passed away on the 26th June 2018.