“Percy,” who was born in Oregon on July 1^st, 1903, came to B.C. with his parents in 1908 and grew up in Saanich and Victoria. Most of his working life was spent in the field of education: ten years in five independent schools, eleven years in three public schools and twenty years in the BC Department of Education. He received BA and BEd degrees from the University of BC. (Most of his family and close friends call him “Wilkie”)

After nearly a year and a half in the militia (3Bn. Canadian Scots Regiment), Wilkie joined the RCAF in January 1942 as an administrative officer. He was Adjutant of 14 (F) Sqn from September 1942 and, during 1943, participated in its “detached operations” from “X Wing” (USAF), at Fort Glenn, Umnak Island in the Aleutians. In February 1944, 14 Sqn was renamed 442 (F) Sqn. and joined 12 Air Defence Group at Digby, Lincolnshire. Then, for six months, he held the unenviable position of Effects Officer at Middleton St. George, one of the eight stations of #6 (RCAF) Group. In September1944, Wilkie became Adjutant of 404 (F) Sqn in 18 Group, RAF Coastal Command, at Banff, Scotland. That unit was disbanded on May 25^th 1945, and Wilkie received his discharge at Jericho Beach, Vancouver, at the end of September 1945.

Percy’s wife, Kathleen Kennington of Duncan, died in April 1996. Their daughter Percia (Mrs. Charles Hamer) died in July 1995. Her children, Dawn (Holland) and David Hamer produced four great grand-children for Percy, and all now live in nearby Brentwood Bay.

During the period from 1946 until the present time, Percy has been an active member and supporter of the Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island (Victoria), the Boy Scouts of Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Airforce Officers Association of Victoria, and an Honorary Life Member of the Airforce Association of Canada. As noted, he joined USI of VI in 1946 where he has not only served as Alternate Secretary to the Board of Directors, in the early 1970s, but has achieved one of the longest service records in RUSI, 56 years!

We salute Flight Lieutenant Percival Wilkinson who, on 1 July 2003, becomes our only centenarian!

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