Harold Pilkington was born in Llandudno, on 9th January 1892. At the time of the 1911 census, he was a student of agriculture in Cumberland.
He joined the Worcestershire Regiment when living in Shawbury, Worcestershire. He was a Lieutenant, commissioned on 3rd November 1915, but there are no details of his time in the Army. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, 47 Squadron on 6th August 1916 and then to the Royal Air Force, 90 Squadron, in April 1918. His record shows that, amongst others, he flew De Havilland, Curtiss, Avro BE 2c, and Vickers Bullet aircraft.
During 16 months in the R.F.C. he served overseas doing day and night flying, bombing, observation & photography, and scout work. He had two periods of hospitalisation, being unfit from 11th October until 18th December 1917 and again from 2nd May 1918. He eventually relinquished him Commission as a Lieutenant on 6th November 1918, due to ill-health.
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and a Silver War Badge. His R.A.F. record states that he had an Agricultural Diploma for land surveying, drainage and building construction.
The Parish Magazine of April 1964 recorded the death of Harold Pilkington, aged 72, a Church councillor, sidesman and regular worshipper at Wickhamford Church until he and Mrs Pilkington moved to Fladbury, a few years before his death. He is assumed to be buried in Fladbury. He had moved to Wickhamford after the Second World War and lived at Oxley House on Longdon Hill.