John James Roland Wilkinson was born and lived in Derby, he enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Wilkinson successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 123 from 3 to 17 July 1944. His course report stated “Average, keen, cheerful, confident”. He was posted to 8th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Wilkinson was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 19, whilst taking part in the daylight parachute drop into Germany as part of the Rhine Crossing during operation Varsity and was given a field burial near Merr, Germany and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 20 March 1947.