James Small Wilkie (1893 – 23 July 1947) was a British politician and trade unionist. Born in Edinburgh, Wilkie served in World War I with the

Royal Scots Fusiliers The Royal Scots Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1678 until 1959 when it was amalgamated with the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Mar ...

. After the war, he worked as a

cooper Cooper, Cooper's, Coopers and similar may refer to: * Cooper (profession), a maker of wooden casks and other staved vessels Arts and entertainment * Cooper (producers), alias of Dutch producers Klubbheads * Cooper (video game character), in ' ...

, and joined the National Association of Coopers, winning election to its committee, then as its president, and finally working full time as its secretary. In order to take up this post, he moved to London, where he became active in the Labour Party, and won election to

Battersea Metropolitan Borough Council Battersea was a civil parish and metropolitan borough in the County of London, England. In 1965, the borough was abolished and its area combined with parts of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth to form the London Borough of Wandsworth. The ...

. In 1926, the various coopers' trade unions formed the

Coopers' Federation of Great Britain The Coopers' Federation of Great Britain was a trade union representing coopers in the United Kingdom and, initially, also in Ireland. The union was founded in 1926 as the Coopers' Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. It brought together ...

, and in 1942, Wilkie was elected as its general secretary. He remained politically active, and at the

1946 London County Council election An election to the County Council of London took place on 7 March 1946. The council was elected by First Past the Post with each elector having two votes in the two-member seats. The Labour Party once more made gains, again increasing their ma ...

, he was elected to represent

Battersea North Battersea North could refer to: * Battersea North (UK Parliament constituency) * Battersea North (London County Council constituency) * Battersea North (electoral division), Greater London Council {{disambig ...

. However, he soon became ill, and returned to Edinburgh, where he died in 1947, at the age of 54.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkie, James Small 1893 births 1947 deaths General secretaries of British trade unions Labour Party (UK) councillors Members of London County Council Trade unionists from Edinburgh Royal Scots Fusiliers soldiers British Army personnel of World War I