Following an attack of malaria fever on 4 December, Atkinson suffered a heart failure and died in Jesselton on 6 December at the age of 28.[2][3][4] His death in December 1902 was officially announced in The Straits Times newspaper on 10 January 1903. The British North Borneo Herald pays the following tribute to his memory:[1]
By the death of Mr. Atkinson the Government is robbed of one of its best officials and each member of the service loses a friend and companion; for everyone knew "West Coast Atky" and all loved him.
Amongst the Juniors of the service service – and, like those whom the gods love, he died young, – Mr. Atkinson was regarded with a species of hero worship, as the mainliest of them all, and his fine physique and handsome presence were their pride and admiration.
It is no mere assertion to say he had no enemies, and it is equally true that he was the most popular official in the service.
Like most physically strong men his good temper and generosity of heart were proverbial and many a time has his heavy hand been stayed by dint of those good qualities from punishing the evil-doer.
His mother Mrs Mary Edith Atkinson had presented a two-faced clock to Jesselton town as a tribute to the memory of her son and it was decided later that a clock tower would be built in his honor. The Atkinson Clock Tower was commissioned on 20 April 1905.[5]: p.25
