John Whittaker
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the second son of Herbert a farmer and Fanny Whittaker of Flintham Newark. Herbert and Fanny had 14 children but three of them died in infancy. John’s surviving siblings were Edwin , Thorpe, Rose, Eleanor, Charles (killed inaction 18/10/1918), George, Bertha, Jane, James and Walter. In 1901 and 1911 the family lived at Flintham where Herbert was a farmer.
John enlisted at Newark on 5th November 1914. He served with the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment. He died at Aubigny Hospital on 22nd July 1916 from wounds he received whilst in action in the front line trenches at Neuville St Vaast earlier in the day. He is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Pas de Calais grave reference I D 47.
De Ruvignys Rollof Honour 1914-1919 gives the following account of John :- Born the second son of Herbert Whittaker of Flintham near Newark, at Ragnall on 10th September 1893. He was educated at Flintham School. and after leaving scholl was employed as a farm horseman. He enlisted into the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters on 5th November 1914 and served with the British Expeditionary Force from 17th February 1915. He took part in the battle of Neuve Chapelle in March and fighting at Aubers Ridge on 9th May. He transferred to 181 company Royal Engineers in August 1915. He died in Aubigny hospital on 22nd July 1916 from wounds received in action in the front line trenches at Neuville St Vaast earlier in the day. He is buried in the burial ground near to the hospital. His commanding officer wrote " He was always every ready, obedient, and courteous and certainly was an example of a British Soldier. You have lost a noble son and I have lost a friend, a cross bearing his name marks the spot where he is buried." Research by Peter Gillings
