9th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 28 September 1917.

Pilkington was a native of Padiham, Lancashire.

The Burnley Express of 8 February 1919 reported, PRESENTATION OF MEDALS AT PADIHAM. At the Padiham Grand theatre, on Tuesday night last, two more Military medals were presented, one being to Private Pilkington, of 13, Guy Street, Padiham, and the other to Private J. Sullivan, of 17, Altham Street, Padiham. The medals were presented by Councilor Wiggins, vice-chairman of the Urban District Council, and were pinned on by Mr. Joseph Hargreaves. There were also present Mr. R.T. Whitehead, Mr. Arthur Ford (chairman of the Padiham Branch of "The Comrades of the Great War" section of Discharged Soldiers Association), and ex-Sergeant Brown (chairman of the Discharged Soldiers Association). Councilor Wiggins, at the outset, read out the War Office report of the deeds which had earned the honours conferred, as follows: - Private Pilkington, 9th East Lancashire Regiment: - "From the night of 27/28 April 1917 to the 2 May 1917, this stretcher bearer dressed many wounded under shell fire and carried them to the aid post across the open. Although under persistent fire, he maintained a remarkable cheerfulness, and was of great assistance in keeping up the spirits of the company. When the company commander was hit and badly wounded, although he himself was partially buried by the same shell, he sent assistance to his officer with such promptness and skill that he undoubtedly saved him from bleeding to death. No praise can be too high for this man's conduct." Councilor Wiggins expressed his great appreciation of the noble deeds that the men had done, and the honour they had bestowed on themselves and the town, and hoped they would live long and conduct themselves in civil life in such a manner as to be a further honour to themselves and the community at large. He further spoke in the highest terms of the work that had been done in the town by the civilian population, and he especially commended the Padiham Women's Emergency Association, who had done great work.