Sergeant Cecil William Kelsey-Wilkinson

Sergeant Cecil William Kelsey-Wilkinson was the son of William Charles and Sybil Hilda Kelsey-Wilkinson; and husband of Rosamond Eveline Kelsey-Wilkinson, of Ilford, Essex. He applied, and was accepted, for service with the Glider Pilot Regiment in 1943. In addition to meeting the mental and physical standards required of RAF aircrew, glider pilots were required to be ‘Total Soldiers’ and fight on the ground with the airborne soldiers they transported. This required soldiers of high calibre with a flexible disposition, intelligence, initiative and discipline.

After completing basic training at the Regiment’s Depot at Tilshead, Sgt Kelsey-Wilkinson transferred to No 16 Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Burnaston, near Derby for a 12 week course. The Elementary Flying Training Schools taught glider pilot students to become proficient in flying light aircraft using Tiger Moths and Miles Magisters.

Sgt Kelsey-Wilkinson died at the age of 24 in a training accident while attending No 16 EFTS RAF Burnaston on 2 April 1943. He is now buried nearby at St. Wystan’s Churchyard, Repton.