Ernest Whiten
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Benjamin Whiten (who was a bricklayer by trade) married Mary Elizabeth Wood in North Cuckney on the 17 Dec 1891. They had three boys all born in Norton, Notts, Ernest in 1893, Levi Randolph 28 Feb 1895 and Walter born 1899. Immediately after, the family of five moved to Worksop and were residing at 38 Priors Well Road. In 1905, they had their one and only daughter who they named Doris. By 1911, the 2 eldest were working, Ernest as a bran packer in a flour mill and Levi as an apprentice mechanic. Six years later, tragedy struck when both Ernest and Walter were killed in the war in the same year. After the war, Levi emigrated to the USA on 2 Oct 1920, married Ida on 1 June 1923 and became naturalized in 1930 at Los Angeles, California. Mary Elizabeth died in 1928, the same year as Doris married and Benjamin lived to the age of 76 when he died in 1941.
Serge. Ernest Whitin Worksop Guardian 21 December 1917 We much regret that we have to record the death of another Worksop soldier, in Serg. Ernest Whitin, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. B. Whitin, Central Avenue. He is the second son they have lost in the war, their boy, Pte. Walter Whitin, being drowned through the torpedoing of a transport on April 15th last year. They will have the sympathy of all in the further bereavement which has befallen them. Serg. Whitin fell in Palestine, and, writing to his parents, Sec. Lieut. Dalzell says it is with the most extreme regret and deepest feeling that he has to inform them of the death in action of their son. “He was shot through the head on the evening of November 2nd, after a whole day’s very hard fighting. He was my troop sergeant, and a boy of almost my own age, and I cannot express my sorrow with you in your terrible loss. He was loved by the entire troop, and was almost indispensable to me. He was a splendid soldier and a man. His end was peaceful, and died instantaneously. The troop and other boys in the Squadron, who know you all, ask me to offer you their sincerest sympathy also. We have all lost a good and faithful comrade. May the fact that he gave his life for his home and King, comfort you both in you’re terrible loss,…He was buried by our fellows on the morning of the 3rd, and if I ever get back to the same place I will record it personally.” Serg. Whitin was 25 years of age, and prior to the war was employed at the Albion Mills. He had seen service in the Dardanelles, Egypt, Salonika, and finally Palestine. A third son, Pte. Levi Whitin is in the M.T., A.S.C., Salonika
CWG additional information:- Son of Ben and M. E. Whiten, of 20, Central Avenue, Worksop. Buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine. Research by Colin Dannatt
