Joseph was born on 21 January 1894 in Northwich, Cheshire, the third child of the six children to George and Mary Emily (née Dale) Wilkinson, with brothers William (1886), sister Agnes (1890), brother Frank (1897) and sisters Gladys (1905), Florence (1911) completing the family at 24, Bond Street, Northwich.

He entered the Royal Navy on 20 September 1910 when he walked through the gates of HMS GANGES in Shotley, Suffolk, to become a Boy Second Class.  On the 3 February 1911 he moved to Devonport and the “Boy Training Ship” HMS IMPREGNABLE where he was selected for the telegraphy branch and became a Boy Tel on 28 April 1911. He was then drafted to HMS VANGUARD from 31 October 1911 to 3 February 1912 where he was rated up to Ord Tel.  He served in HMS VIVID 1 4 February to 3 June, HMS LION 4 June to 30 August, back to VIVID 1 31 August  to 24 September, HMS DEFIANCE 25 September 1911 and was rated Telegraphist (Tel) on 28 September 1912.

On 1 May 1913 he was drafted to HMS FORTH for 6 weeks until 15 June when he joined HMS DOLPHIN for the submariners course. On 6 July 1913 he joined HMS MAIDSTONE until 6 April 1914 when he was drafted back to DOLPHIN for 5 months before returning to MAIDSTONE for HMS D2 on 1 October 1914.

On 25 November 1914 D2 was rammed by a German patrol boat while on patrol in the North Sea just off the German island of Borkum. There were no survivors of the 27 crew members.

Telegraphist, Joseph Wilkinson, Svc No. J 9962, had “Crossed The Bar” with 26 of his shipmates.

Note. The date 25th November 1914 was confirmed from German Naval records after the war. The initial and official date of 1 December 1914 on the Death Report was when D2 did not return from patrol.