Driver Walter Whittle.
L/8672 Royal Field Artillery, “A” Bty. 150th Bde.
Died 9th May 1916.
By kind permission of Peter Davis
Walter was baptised 1st Aug 1897 in Burnley Lancs. The son of Robert William Whittle and Elizabeth Wrench. At the time the family were in the East Lancs Barracks at Cavalry St, Burnley, his father being a Colour Sergeant in the East Lancs. Still there in the 1901 census the family consisted of Robert 37 born in Blackburn, Elizabeth 40 born in Rochdale, Robert Peter 14, Thomas 12, John 10, Annie 9, all born in Ireland. Eleanor 5 and Walter 3, both born in Burnley.
The 1911 census found the family living and running the Gretna Green Hotel, 259 Coal Clough Lane, Burnley. Robert 47, Elizabeth 50, Thomas 22, Annie 19 winder, Eleanor 15 and Walter 13. His parents had been married 30 years and had had 10 children all surviving.
Walter’s father was a long serving soldier, having enlisted on the 5th Nov 1883 in the East Lancs Regt., working his way up to be a QSM. He served on the home front, Ireland and Gibralter. He immediately enlisted again on the 11th Sept 1914, at the grand old age of 51.. He was running the Cross Guns Hotel at Church. He was eventually discharged as being unfit on the 19th Sept 1918.
From the Manchester Evening News dated 31 May 1916: RANK-AND-FILE LOSSES. MANY MANCHESTER'S KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The following local casualties appear in the list officially published today:
KILLED:
ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.
Driver W Whittle (8672) Church.
Walter left his effects to his father Robert.
Walter was buried at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, France: Grave Ref II.F.15.
By kind permission of Peter Davis
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Hi George Thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to use any of the info given on my tree re., Walter and his family. Walter was my third cousin (twice removed). The lineage is as follows: Walter WHITTLE 1897-1916 Elizabeth WRENCH 1861-1919 - Mother of Walter WHITTLE Sarah BRADBURY 1840-1907 - Mother of Elizabeth WRENCH Mary Ann SCOTT 1815-1869 - Mother of Sarah BRADBURY William SCOTT 1787-1864 - Father of Mary Ann SCOTT Hugh SCOTT 1808-1866 - Son of William SCOTT Margaret SCOTT 1842-1932 - Daughter of Hugh SCOTT James WILKINSON 1862-1935 - Son of Margaret SCOTT Elizabeth Annie WILKINSON 1893-1965 - Daughter of James WILKINSON Eileen Elizabeth GLEESON 1930-2016 - Daughter of Elizabeth Annie WILKINSON and my mother. You will note that one of the relatives named above is William Scott. He was in the Rifle Regiment at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Walter’s father was also a Colour Sergeant in the British army. So there seems to have been somewhat of a military tradition in Walter’s family. Best wishes Peter Davies |