Private James Whittam. 

6888 2nd Border Regiment.

Missing in action 25th September 1915, aged 31.

From The Express and Advertiser dated 10th April 1915: NO MESSAGE SINCE MARCH 21ST. BURNLEY SOLDIER REPORTED WOUNDED.

Since they received a Government printed postcard from him dated March 21st, the relatives of Private Whittam (6888), of the Border Regiment, have heard nothing as to his whereabouts, and they are naturally anxious as to his safety. Their concern has been increased during the past few days for his name has appeared in the official casualty lists under the heading of "wounded", and no direct information of it has been conveyed to them.

 Private Whittam who was about 30 years of age, was called up as a reservist, and had previously served 3 years in the Army, a short period of which was in Egypt. His people are well known as members of St Mary's Roman Catholic Church.

 From The Express and Advertiser dated 19th August 1916: BURNLEY PRIVATE'S FINE RECORD. MISSING SINCE LOOS, NOW REPORTED KILLED.

 Mrs Mary Whittam of 27 Thurston Street Burnley, has received an official notice from the War Office that her son Private James Whittam (6888), of the 2nd Border Regiment who had been reported missing since the Battle of Loos on the 25th September 1915, was killed on or about that date. Private Whittam who was 31 years of age, was a reservist, and was called up the first day of the war. He was one of the most cheery and optimistic soldiers in the army, and was known to the whole regiment as “Paddy”.

 The following tribute to Private Whittam is contained in a letter addressed by a comrade to his sister: "Your sad letter received, but we were sure enough of the facts from the beginning. May God rest his poor soul. On that terrible day there were few prisoners taken, and he had vowed on his oath to die fighting. Well you have the satisfaction that he died as he lived, always a true man. In every letter that I have received, his comrades expressed the highest appreciation of his fine soldierly qualities, his courage in the face of danger, which, as his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Col. Thorpe wrote me, he held in contempt.  His record is one of hard fighting under the worst conditions. The first winter of the war found us unprepared, and the hardships that our Men had to go through were terrible but he never complained, only an occasional request which plainly told me the hardships and horrors of the campaign. His letters were always a treat. Full of fun and humour. He always saw the funny side of the situation, but he had seen enough of the Germans to despise them and their cowardly methods for all time. The records of his Regiment are grand. He was in the retreat from Mons, and they saved the Belgian Army from annihilation, covering their retreat when the whole countryside was fleeing in terror. Then in the great fight on the Marne they again achieved wonders against tremendous odds. Then he was in the Ypres salient, where they repulsed the Prussian Guards 11 times in one day. He would go over the top any time after a comrade, and at Festubert  he actually went over 8 times. For that he was recommended for the DCM, but he purposely absented himself from the Honours Parade when the names of the men who have distinguished themselves are read out. Again he was recommended at Neuve Chappelle for two distinct occasions, and again at the Battle of Loos, but alas! he was not on that parade. All the men who have written, his Officers, and even the Red Cross people who were pursuing the hopeless task of trying to find him, could tell of his valour, his utter disregard of death, and his kindness."

Lived at 27 Thurston Street.

James Left his effects to his mother Mary.

James is commemorated on the Dud Corner Loos Memorial:  Panels 68 & 69.