NORMAN BAYLEY WILKES (1911-1914 : 20), Second Lieutenant, South Staffordshire Regiment, only son of the Rev. T W Wilkes of St. Peter’s Church, Wolverhampton, was born at St. Paul’s Vicarage, West Smethwick.  He went into the Sunbeam Motor Works when he left the school, and in January 1916, joined the Inns of Court O.T.C.  Having duly qualified for and obtained a commission, he went out to France in April 1917.  On April 29th 1918 he was killed in action, and on his 21st birthday, two days later, his body was laid to rest with military ceremonial.  The General in command of his division wrote that he was killed in circumstances of special gallantry.  His company and another were ordered to take a post, and their enterprise was completely successful, both prisoners and machine guns being captured.  The Colonel said that he showed courage of a high order and that his men regarded him with affection and respect, which he thoroughly merited.  Two Chaplains bore even stronger testimony to his worth, one writing:  “He was a great Christian and in every way one of the finest soldiers I have known”.  It appears that his death was due to machine gun fire, and so passed gloriously to another life a boy whose frankness, sincerity and genial disposition had endeared him to his schoolfellows.