- Other Entry
- SURNAME
Pilkington
- FORENAME
Mark Leslie
- UNIT
LRDG R1 Patrol
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
76537
- DATE OF DEATH
18th November 1942
- AGE
28
- GRAVESITE
Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya 10.H.3
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Life Guards
born 12.1.1914 Hitchin, Hertfordshire
resided London SW
son of Hubert Carlisle (1879-1942) and Ruth Honor (nee Leslie) (1891-1975) Pilkington, Little Offley, Herts
husband of Susan Violet (nee Henderson) Pilkington
married 25.2.1936 (1 son Simon Mark)
brother of Charles Leslie Pilkington, died 11.3.1942 age 20 as Flying Officer (67717), RAFVR
award Military Cross 1941 with SOE in Ethiopia (Lt)
attached LRDG for about one month from Arab Legion
KIA by Italian fighters, Wadi Tamet, Libya
SOE file in National Archives
Offley, Hertfordshire War Memorial
St. Mary Magdalane Churchyard, Great Offley, Hertfordshire, UK (Memorial on family plot)
DATE OF DEATH:
18-Nov-1942CITATION:
Military Cross : For conspicuous gallantry in action over a prolonged period from April 1941 to 27 November 1941.
This officer entered ETHIOPIA in March, 1941, in command of an operational centre composed of Ethiopians from the SUDAN. He was directed against the DEBRA TABOR area in April. Together with other Ethiopian forces under British Officers he led many harassing attacks against that place until its surrender in June, 1941.
Taking over a complete unit known as UOLLO BANDA, consisting of 1,500 Italian-trained irregulars who volunteered to serve against the Italians after the surrender of DEBRA TABOR, Captain PILKINGTON continued to set an example of a high order in his raids and harassing attacks on the Italian lines of communication between KULKABER and GONDAR.
With the arrival of regular troops in the GONDAR area, Captain PILKINGTON and his UOLLO BANDA took part in the attacks on the KULKABER position on the 13th and 21st November, giving particularly valuable assistance in the latter action in spite of heavy casualties to his troops. On 27th November he led his troops in the final attack on GONDAR with great dash and gallantry, taking all objectives assigned to him.
This officer entered ETHIOPIA in March, 1941, in command of an operational centre composed of Ethiopians from the SUDAN. He was directed against the DEBRA TABOR area in April. Together with other Ethiopian forces under British Officers he led many harassing attacks against that place until its surrender in June, 1941.
Taking over a complete unit known as UOLLO BANDA, consisting of 1,500 Italian-trained irregulars who volunteered to serve against the Italians after the surrender of DEBRA TABOR, Captain PILKINGTON continued to set an example of a high order in his raids and harassing attacks on the Italian lines of communication between KULKABER and GONDAR.
With the arrival of regular troops in the GONDAR area, Captain PILKINGTON and his UOLLO BANDA took part in the attacks on the KULKABER position on the 13th and 21st November, giving particularly valuable assistance in the latter action in spite of heavy casualties to his troops. On 27th November he led his troops in the final attack on GONDAR with great dash and gallantry, taking all objectives assigned to him.
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9261982 (SOE Personnel File)https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7363508 (MC)
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/fallen-alumni/captain-mark-leslie-pilkington
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22740793/mark-leslie-pilkington
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