Pte
James Willie Whittaker
Informations sur naissance
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Année de naissance: 1887 |
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Lieu de naissance: Skipton, Yorkshire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
Informations générales
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Profession: Ouvrier d'usine de coton |
Informations service militaire
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Pays: Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
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Force armée: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Numéro de service: 267013 |
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Incorporation nom de lieu: Skipton, Yorkshire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
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Unités: — Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 1/6th Bn. (Dernière unité connue) |
Informations sur décès
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Date de décès: 03/05/1918 |
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Lieu de décès: Millekruisse, Belgique |
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Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Âge: 31 |
Cimetière
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La Clytte Military Cemetery Parcelle: V Rangée: D Tombe: 1 |
Distinctions et médailles 2
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British War Medal Médaille |
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Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 2
| #1 | Lieu de naissance | ||
| #2 | Lieu d'enrôlement |
Mon histoire
Private James Willie Whittaker was born in 1887 in Skipton, North Yorkshire. He was the son of Edward and Ann Whittaker and he had two brothers and one sister. Before he enlisted in the army he was working as a twister/drawer at Firth & Moorhouse textile mill. When he enlisted in 1916, he joined the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment 1/6th Battalion, part of the 147th Brigade of the 49th Division.
At 10.15 a.m. on April 25th the battalion received orders to move 3 miles south-east to the town of Ouderdom. Further orders were received to set up a defensive line with the 1/7th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, between the French army’s flank at Millekruisse cross roads, extending south along a road named Milky Way to Beaver Corner (a line of some 1300 yards). The battalion began to dig in with “A” and “B” Companies at the front, “C” in support and “D” in reserve. Later, further orders were again received to take over a line a few hundred yards west of Milky Way. “A” and “B” Companies moved to these positions whilst “C” and “D” Companies remained in their original positions.
At 3 a.m. on 29 April, the Germans launched a heavy artillery bombardment with high explosive and gas shells on the front and rear lines. At that time a mass German infantry attack was launched against the 21st, 25th and 49th Divisions. The line was held and the Germans were caught in a British artillery barrage. The men of the 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment fired Lewis guns and rifles into the advancing Germans, stopping the attack, but the bombardment continued. On 30 April the French 39th Division launched an attack from their line at La Clytte. At 7 p.m. orders were received for an attack on the front line just north of Pompier Farm across to Milky Way. The attack would be made by a French Division and 7 Brigade. “C” and Support Companies from the 1/6th DWR were detailed to assist the attack. Zero hour was 8 p.m. and the British objectives were taken, but as the French troops failed to advance, so 7 Brigade, including the two companies from the 1/6th DWR had to withdraw back to the start line.
On May 2nd the 1/6th battalion was relieved by the 146th Composite Battalion and deployed as follows: “A” Company was placed in support of 1/4th DWR, “B” Company was placed in support of the 146th Composite Battalion (made up of the remnants of 146 Infantry Brigade and the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers), and “C”, “D” and HQ Companies withdrew to Millekruisse. On May 3rd final orders were received regarding the relief by French forces and the day passed quietly. At 8.30 p.m., before the relief could take place, a heavy German artillery barrage landed on the front and support lines. During this barrage, Private James Willie Whittaker was killed in action. He was 27 years old. He was originally buried in a grave that was indicated with a cross at N.1.b.7.5. (behind the front line near Millekruisse), but he was reburied in 1919 in the La Clytte Military Cemetery Plot V Row D Grave 1, close to where he was originally buried.
Private James Willie Whittaker was one of three brothers who served in the First World War. His brother, private Richard Dove Whittaker also served in the 1/6th DWR and was killed in action on 28 February 1918 near Reutel, Belgium. His other brother, Edgar Whittaker, served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery and was the only one of the three brothers who survived the war.
At 10.15 a.m. on April 25th the battalion received orders to move 3 miles south-east to the town of Ouderdom. Further orders were received to set up a defensive line with the 1/7th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, between the French army’s flank at Millekruisse cross roads, extending south along a road named Milky Way to Beaver Corner (a line of some 1300 yards). The battalion began to dig in with “A” and “B” Companies at the front, “C” in support and “D” in reserve. Later, further orders were again received to take over a line a few hundred yards west of Milky Way. “A” and “B” Companies moved to these positions whilst “C” and “D” Companies remained in their original positions.
At 3 a.m. on 29 April, the Germans launched a heavy artillery bombardment with high explosive and gas shells on the front and rear lines. At that time a mass German infantry attack was launched against the 21st, 25th and 49th Divisions. The line was held and the Germans were caught in a British artillery barrage. The men of the 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment fired Lewis guns and rifles into the advancing Germans, stopping the attack, but the bombardment continued. On 30 April the French 39th Division launched an attack from their line at La Clytte. At 7 p.m. orders were received for an attack on the front line just north of Pompier Farm across to Milky Way. The attack would be made by a French Division and 7 Brigade. “C” and Support Companies from the 1/6th DWR were detailed to assist the attack. Zero hour was 8 p.m. and the British objectives were taken, but as the French troops failed to advance, so 7 Brigade, including the two companies from the 1/6th DWR had to withdraw back to the start line.
On May 2nd the 1/6th battalion was relieved by the 146th Composite Battalion and deployed as follows: “A” Company was placed in support of 1/4th DWR, “B” Company was placed in support of the 146th Composite Battalion (made up of the remnants of 146 Infantry Brigade and the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers), and “C”, “D” and HQ Companies withdrew to Millekruisse. On May 3rd final orders were received regarding the relief by French forces and the day passed quietly. At 8.30 p.m., before the relief could take place, a heavy German artillery barrage landed on the front and support lines. During this barrage, Private James Willie Whittaker was killed in action. He was 27 years old. He was originally buried in a grave that was indicated with a cross at N.1.b.7.5. (behind the front line near Millekruisse), but he was reburied in 1919 in the La Clytte Military Cemetery Plot V Row D Grave 1, close to where he was originally buried.
Private James Willie Whittaker was one of three brothers who served in the First World War. His brother, private Richard Dove Whittaker also served in the 1/6th DWR and was killed in action on 28 February 1918 near Reutel, Belgium. His other brother, Edgar Whittaker, served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery and was the only one of the three brothers who survived the war.
Rapports avec d'autres militaires 1
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Richard Dove Whittaker
Brother |
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources utilisées |
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Barber, S., "Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in the Great War, A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment", Barnsley, Pen & Sword Military, 2018, 182-189. Sources utilisées |
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CPGW http://www.cpgw.org.uk/soldier-records/richard-dove-whittaker/ Sources utilisées |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/438911/whittaker,-james-willie/ Sources utilisées |
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Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/duke-of-wellingtons-west-riding-regiment/ Sources utilisées |
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War Diary http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources utilisées |