Victoria Cross & VC

medal, ribbon, brooch bar cross patté (described in the Royal Warrant as a 'Maltese cross of bronze') having at its centre a crown surmounted by 'lion gardant'; beneath the crown an ornamentally draped scroll bearing the motto: 'FOR VALOUR'. Raised borders outline the shape of the cross. The plain reverse bears a central circle (with raised edge) to enclose the date of the act of gallantry. The suspension bar comprises a straight laurelled bar with integral 'V' lug; the plain reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with details of the recipient. The 1½-inch wide ribbon is crimson. The presence of a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award. [Note: originally the ribbon was dark blue for Royal Navy recipients and crimson (described as 'red' in the Warrants) for the Army. After the formation of the Royal Air Force (1 April 1918) the crimson ribbon (sometimes described as 'claret', 'maroon' or 'dark red', was adopted for all recipients. When present, a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award.] This Victoria Cross (contained in its original case of issue together with the original cardboard box) is inscribed on the reverse of the suspension bar: 'TY. LIEUT. THOMAS WILKINSON, R.N.R. H.M.S. LI WO.' The date of the action, '14TH FEB. 1942', is inscribed on the reverse of the medal within the central boss.

Biographical note - recipient: Thomas Wilkinson (1 August 1898 - 14 February 1942). Wilkinson was born at Widnes, Lancashire. An extract from the London Gazette of 17 December 1946 describes the action for which Wilkinson won his VC as follows: 'On 14 February 1942 in the Java Sea, HMS Li Wo, a patrol vessel, formerly a passenger steamer, commanded by Lieutenant Wilkinson, sighted two enemy convoys, one escorted by Japanese warships. The Lieutenant told his crew he had decided to engage the convoy and fight to the last in the hope of inflicting some damage - this decision drew resolute support from the whole ship's crew. In the action which followed a Japanese transport was set on fire and abandoned, and Li Wo stayed in action against a heavy cruiser for over an hour before being hit at point-blank range and sunk. Lieutenant Wilkinson ordered his crew to abandon ship, but he went down with the Li Wo'. The Li Wo was built for the Indo-China Navigation Company in 1938 by the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, being specially designed and engined for service as a steamer on the Upper Yangtse. She was a small ship, only 170 feet long with a beam of 30 feet and a draught of 7 feet when loaded. After being requisitioned, HMS Li Wo was dispatched to Singapore and employed on patrol duty in Malayan waters. Of the 76 crew and 8 passengers on board, less than a dozen survived. In addition to Wilkinson's VC, one DSO, one CGM, two DSMs and six Mentions in Despatch were awarded in connection with the action.

Biographical note - recipient: Thomas Wilkinson (1 August 1898 - 14 February 1942). Wilkinson was born at Widnes, Lancashire. An extract from the London Gazette of 17 December 1946 describes the action for which Wilkinson won his VC as follows: 'On 14 February 1942 in the Java Sea, HMS Li Wo, a patrol vessel, formerly a passenger steamer, commanded by Lieutenant Wilkinson, sighted two enemy convoys, one escorted by Japanese warships. The Lieutenant told his crew he had decided to engage the convoy and fight to the last in the hope of inflicting some damage - this decision drew resolute support from the whole ship's crew. In the action which followed a Japanese transport was set on fire and abandoned, and Li Wo stayed in action against a heavy cruiser for over an hour before being hit at point-blank range and sunk. Lieutenant Wilkinson ordered his crew to abandon ship, but he went down with the Li Wo'. The Li Wo was built for the Indo-China Navigation Company in 1938 by the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, being specially designed and engined for service as a steamer on the Upper Yangtse. She was a small ship, only 170 feet long with a beam of 30 feet and a draught of 7 feet when loaded. After being requisitioned, HMS Li Wo was dispatched to Singapore and employed on patrol duty in Malayan waters. Of the 76 crew and 8 passengers on board, less than a dozen survived. In addition to Wilkinson's VC, one DSO, one CGM, two DSMs and six Mentions in Despatch were awarded in connection with the action.

(a) TY. LIEUT. THOMAS WILKINSON, R.N.R H.M.S. LI WO (b) 14TH FEB. 1942 (c) BY APPOINTMENT TO THE LATE KING GEORGE V. HANCOCKS & CO (JEWELLERS) LTD. 9, VIGO STREET. LONDON W1