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Arthur Thomas WHITAKER

Main CPGW Record

Surname: WHITAKER

Forename(s): Arthur Thomas

Place of Birth: Farnhill, Yorkshire

Service No: 71551

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 'Z' Coy 15th (Service) Battalion. (Nottingham)

Division: 35th Division

Age: 22

Date of Death: 1918-10-20

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: V. A. 14

CWGC Cemetery: HARLEBEKE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: FARNHILL, YORKSHIRE

Local War Memorial: KILDWICK, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Arthur Thomas Whitaker (born 22 September 1896) was the son of William and Edith Alice Whitaker, née Newton. William was born at Eastburn, Yorkshire and Edith at Hurworth-on-Tees, Co. Durham.

1901 Farnhill, Yorkshire Census: 2, Grange Road - Arthur T. Whitaker, aged 4 years, born Farnhill, son of William and Edith A. Whitaker.

1911 Farnhill, Yorkshire Census: Grange Road - Arthur Thomas Whitaker, aged 14 years, born Farnhill, son of William Whitaker, widower.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Arthur T. Whitaker, 32274, North Staffs R.; 71551, Notts & Derby R.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Arthur Thomas Whitaker, 32274, North Staffs R.; 71551, 16th Bn Notts & Derby R.; 15th Bn Notts & Derby R. [The 16th Bn (Chatsworth Rifles) was reduced to a training cadre on the 16 May 1918.]

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Arthur Thomas Whitaker, 71551, Notts & Derby. Date and Place of Death: 20.10.18. In action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - William. £17 5s. 10d.

UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Arthur.

Data Source: Local War Memorial

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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---

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Private Arthur Thomas WHITAKER

Private Arthur Thomas WHITAKER

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 35th Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 35th Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: WHITTAKER

Forename(s): Arthur Thomas

Born: Kildwick, Yorks

Residence:

Enlisted: Keighley, Yorks

Number: 71551

Rank: Private

Regiment: Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

Battalion: 15th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 20/10/18

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes: Formerly 32274, North Staffs Regt.

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: WHITAKER

Forename(s): Arthur Thomas

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 71551

Rank: Private

Regiment: Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)

Unit: "Z" Coy. 15th Bn.

Age: 22

Awards:

Died Date: 20/10/1918

Additional Information: Son of William and Edith Alice Whitaker, of 4, Grange Rd., Farnhill, Keighley, Yorks. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: THY WILL BE DONE)

View Additional Text

View Additional Text For Soldier Records

Private Arthur Thomas Whitaker

(Kindly supplied by John Whitaker)

Date of attestation: 10th February 1916, aged 19 years and 5 months.

1st class shot.

3rd class bomber.

Arthur was killed in action Sunday 20th October 1918.

The war diary for that day reads:

“The advance was continued and the Battalion assembled east of the road in 29 H. 34 central with the 15th Cheshire’s on the right flank and the 4th North Staffs. on the left. At zero (5.45) the advance began and the leading companies were greatly troubled by machine gun resistance. On the nearing the outskirts of Sweveghem the attack was held up by machine gun fire and the 15th Cheshire’s who had encountered a stout resistance had not come up – thus exposing our right flank. After a heavy enemy barrage the Bosche evacuated the village and at 15 hours the battalion marched through, eventually taking up the line of the road running NE through 29.0.7 central.”

Information taken from Arthur’s Soldiers' & Sailors' own diary:

Enlisted: North Staffs

Landed in France on 24th Jan 1917, after approximately 3 weeks training he was sent to join the 16th Btn Notts & Derby (Chatsworth Rifles).

After a spell in hospital (Abbeville) and convalescence in Boulogne during April and May 1918 with a septic heel, he was sent to join the 15th Btn Notts and Derby on the 29th May 1918.

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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

Private Arthur Thomas Whitaker

Private Arthur Thomas Whitaker

Courtesy of John Whitaker

Harlebeke New British Cemetery

Harlebeke New British Cemetery

CWGC Headstone - [Personal inscription: ‘THY WILL BE DONE’]

Courtesy of John Whitaker

Harelbeekstraat, Zwevegem, Belgium

Harelbeekstraat, Zwevegem, Belgium

Arthur was killed near Sweveghem now Zwevegem is to the south east of Kortrijk British Expeditionary Force (BEF) give the map coordinates of Arthur’s field grave as 29 O 1 a 6 7 The current reference: 50-49-5N, 3-19-49E or 3.3302, 50.8181 Address: Harelbeekstraat, Zwevegem, Belgium. The field grave was to the side of the road in what is now the parking bay behind the white van. After the end of the war Arthur’s body was exhumed, he was finally laid to rest in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Deerlijksesteenweg, Harlebeke, Kortrijk. Grave reference: V. A. 14

Courtesy of John Whitaker

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