Wilks' is Biggles' friendly rival in shooting down Huns and enemy balloons in WWI, and he goes on to feature in many other stories throughout the series. We see him in Flies Again, Flies North, Sergeant Bigglesworth, and so on. He is also present in Spitfire Parade, where his Hurricane squadron is involved in friendly rivalry with Biggles' Spitfires.
As far as I can tell, the only place where Wilks' full name is mentioned is in Spitfire Parade, where he writes a letter on behalf of his squadron (701) asking how "Flight Lieutenants Lacey and Lissie like their eggs boiled", and signs it, "A. R. Wilkinson, Squadron Leader."
I've taken the obvious route and made him "Arthur Robert" (see Biggles Married II Chapter 3), but I'd be interested to hear of any other mentions or guesses in the comments section below!
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Maybe it's something super imposing like Arbuthnot Ravenstone (to match the heady heights of squadron leader he was one day to attain) - there must be a reason he kept it under his hat all those years.... : - )
ReplyDelete....on the other hand if his name had been genuinely embarrassing Biggles would have used it all the time just to wind him up....!
ReplyDeleteWhat if it's Algernon?!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow about Algernon Raymond :-))))
ReplyDeleteHad Wilks got to Group Captain by the time of Sergeant Bigglesworth? I'm not at home so I can't check.
ReplyDeleteYes, he had. I reckon he'd probably need reminding what the 'A.R.' stands for himself by now; it doesn't seem as if anyone ever uses it!
ReplyDeleteI REFUSE to believe his first name is Algernon.
ReplyDeleteQuite right, too. There's only one Algernon.
ReplyDeleteYes, as it should be! If Wilks' first name was Algernon surely Johns would have said something about it.
ReplyDeleteOr Biggles would have.
Wilks is definitely NOT an Algernon!
ReplyDeleteVery likely his name is Arthur anyway :)
ReplyDelete