Author: oldwhittingtonops

I have now finished the task I set myself 18 months ago of filling out the lives of the fallen men on the two memorials, 89 in total, who served in WW1. To make them become more than just a name etched on the memorials. Hopefully you have found the stories interesting and the men have now become real people to everyone who has followed the page. The research has been in turn interesting, sad, thought provoking but ultimately I feel immense pride for what these men did. Ordinary working men who answered the call when the country needed their help.
Unfortunately there are five men I cannot trace. I can find the names but not sufficient enough evidence to connect them with Whittington.
They are:
Norman Dennison
Charles Fearn
William Fisher
John Short
George Sims

I have just finished researching Fred Mitchell who died 30th May 1918 after serving from the start of the war in 1914.

Fred served with the Royal Engineers Waterways and Railways Troops.  I have to admit I had never heard of these troops before.  It was hard to pin point where in France Fred was serving but he would certainly have been involved in some heavy fighting.

I have now just one more man to write up ,William Wood, and hope to post that research over the weekend and reach my goal of completing all of the research by 11th November 2019.

 

Joseph Norton was assumed  killed in action at the Battle of Loos on 3rd October 1915, he was 28 years old. He is commemorated on the Loos memorial.  My research into Joseph’s life can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/norton-joseph/

He is remembered on the Old Whittington and Brushes War memorials.

John Green died at Passchendaele on 12th October 1917, leaving a young wife and baby at Sheepbridge.  His story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/green-john-e/

He is one of the small number of men who are only remembered on the Brushes memorial.

I have to admit when I first read the name I did worry that I wouldn’t be able to find the correct man, however, as sometimes happens, John turned out easier to trace than I expected.

I managed to contact a great niece of Johns which helped to confirm I was on the correct path.

I have just finished researching the life of Harry Adams who grew up in New Whittington but is remembered on New and Old Whittington memorials.  Harry died on 30th September 1917,  His story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/adams-harry/

 

I am coming nearly to the end of my research into the men on the War Memorials.  Sadly, as to be expected, I cannot find much reliable  information for a few of the men.

Thomas Hubbard is one, I have posted what I have found at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/hubbard-thos/

Charles Fearn is one man I cannot trace with certainty that I am following the right man, and he may have to remain a mystery.

If anyone can help with any information on either of these two men please get in touch.

Frank Wheelhouse, I have had trouble finding Frank Wheelhouse and have to admit nearly gave up until last week when I finally found a clue. Frank Wheelhouse had enlisted as Frank Morgan, presumably this is a family name but not his mothers maiden name which occasionally happens. Frank was killed in action on 15th August 1915 leaving a wife and twin babies at Sheepbridge. His story can finally be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/wheelhouse-frank/

If anyone has any further information they would like to add regarding Frank Wheelhouse then please get in touch.

I have just finished researching William Arthur Belfitt and his story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/belfitt-wm-arthur/

This was a bit of a tricky one with still a few unconfirmed pieces of information. I have never researched a member of the RFC later the RAF and it was quite a learning curve for me, and I found some it very interesting and distracting!

I haven’t found a picture of William as yet but will keep looking and if any descendants of the Belfitt family have any photos or information they would like to share then please get in touch.

I have just finished my research into the life of Ernest Gilberthorpe. He died on 27th May 1918, he was 23 years old. His story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/gilberthorpe-ernest/

I haven’t yet found a photo for Ernest but will keep looking.

If any descendants of the Gilberthorpe family have any stories or photos they would like to share on the webpage then please get in touch.