Humphrey Wilkinson
Case Reference: 1957-534
Alias: Al or Albert
Missing since: January 23, 1957
Missing from: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Date of Birth: June 7, 1928
Age at Disappearance: 30 years
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Eye Color: Blue-grey
Hair: Brown hair with sideburns
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 140 lbs
“Albert” was last seen wearing: Dark green toque, green jacket, black wool sweater, black plaid shirt, and knee-high gumboots.
Notable: Albert was known to suffer from severe headaches and stomach upsets, but there was nothing to indicate that these conditions had any bearing on him going missing. It was also determined that Albert had been drinking quite heavily in the year prior to him going missing. Albert was a part time commercial fisherman who liked to dress in expensive clothing and was an avid cartoonist.
Details About Albert’s Case: On January 29, 1957, Mrs. Wilkinson called the Surrey RCMP to report that her son, Humphrey ‘Albert’ Wilkinson, had not been seen or heard from in a week. Albert lived by himself in North Surrey with his dog. He had left his wallet and identification at his home, but it was determined that his rifle and his dog were missing from the house.
There was a sighting of Albert was reported on January 29, 1957 by an employee of Woolworths in New Westminster. The employee had seen a photograph of Albert and was convinced that the person she saw was indeed Albert. This person also stated that the person she saw on this date was known to her as ‘Al’. Information regarding Albert going missing had been released to the newspapers in Vancouver and New Westminster and on the radio in Cloverdale in 1957. Albert’s case was also circularized in the RCMP Gazette.
The investigation revealed that Albert had worked for the Martin Paper Company in New Westminster as a carpenter, but was last seen there on January 23, 1957. He did not pick up his last pay cheque. Albert did not mention to anyone at the workplace that he was planning on going anywhere or leaving his job. It had been determined that Albert had not sought employment insurance, but had previously told personnel with employment insurance that he wished to seek employment in Cache Creek, British Columbia. Investigation in the Cache Creek area failed to any information regarding the whereabouts of Albert.
There was a suggestion that Albert had a ‘strong desire to tour the world’ and it they thought it was possible that he had joined the Canadian Army in order to fulfill this desire. After some investigating, it was revealed that Albert had not joined the Army and had not he been in contact with any employment agencies.
Investigators were also told that Albert may have gone to Northern BC to go fishing with a friend by the nickname of ‘Old Man’, whom he spoke of often. There was not enough information provided to this obtained to be able to identify this friend or determine where the friend lived.
Some time prior to going missing, Albert had introduced his family to a woman who he had claimed to have married. Investigators later learned that while Albert had given her a diamond solitaire ring and a plain wedding ring, they were not legally married and she was in fact living with and married to another man. Albert had apparently been trying to convince the woman to leave her husband to be with him. The woman stated that she did not know why Albert had gone missing but speculated that perhaps he had, had enough of the situation and wanted to get away. However, the woman did not think that Albert would harm himself.
Albert’s family spent considerable money advertising in many newspapers asking for information on his disappearance but none of the tips received gave them any answers. Albert has not attempted to contact any family members since his disappearance. Law enforcement are asking for the public’s assistance to help bring some closure to the Wilkinson family search for answers.
Anyone who may have information related to Albert’s case, please contact the Surrey RCMP Missing Persons Unit at 604-599-0502 or the local police in your area.
If you wish to remain anonymous contact Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers (www.solvecrime.ca) at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit http://www.tipsubmit.com to submit tips online.
Sources:
RCMP
Doe Network
Someone Saw Something 
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