9 replies to this topic

[raysearcher]

I came across the following headstone and as it contained a soldier D O W Gallipoli
I added it to Bob Pikes ( Gallipoli brothers Brothers killed at least 1 on Gallipoli ),Thread



Transcript of the Stone

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
SONS OF CHARLES + ANNIE WHITFIELD
WHO ANSWERED THE GREAT CALL 1914-1918
DRIVER CHARLES WHITFIELD  R F A
GALLIPOLI MESOPOTANIA
DIED AT ??????   INDIA OCT 25 1918 AGED 25 YEARS
ALSO Pt  JOHN WM WHITFIELD 6TH YORKS
DIED OCT 14th 1919  AGED 21 YEARS
ALSO CHARLES FATHER OF THE ABOVE
BELOVED HUSBAND OF ANNIE WHITFIELD
LOST AT SEA SEPT 13 1922 AGED 58 YEARS

Confirmation of identity 1911 census


No problem with Charles

Driver C WHITFIELD
33859, 69th Bty., Royal Field Artillery
who died on 25 October 1918
KIRKEE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL



Try as I may I cannot Find any  John William Whitfied on Cwgc or Swgw  to match up with the above details on the Memorial

Both name,s  are on Middlesbrough War Memorial

I cannot find a J W Witfield on Free BMD  or Ancestery who died in 1919 but  ironicaly there is one on the Tees valley indexes who died  in 1919 who may be him

I have also found a medal card  for a J W Whitfield , Who ,I dont seem to be able to find either It matches and states Died  it could be him or it may not

I dont even Know at this point in time if John  William Whitfield was a Serving soldier when he died the memorial indicates he was
Here is the  MIC



who,s Medal card is it ?
could this be a non Commemoration

any assistance appreciated

Regards Ray

[skipman]

Is this your man?

J Whitfield

" Whitfield, JohnWilliam.
John Whitfield was Sunderland born, lived in South Bank and enlisted in
Middlesbrough to serve with the 6th battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment.
With the battalion involved in the Operations on the Ancre, Private Whitfield died on
January 23rd 1917 and today lies in Varennes Military Cemetery situated south west
of Acheux on the Somme. "

From HERE

Mike

[raysearcher]

Hi Mike
I did Have a look at that one
Nothing  seems to match  
1911 census says Birth Middlesbrough
whilst  in the 6th Bn   East Yorks   Not Yorks (green Howards ) ?
different date of death
and you would have thought the family would have known when he died

Thanks for the reply Ray

[Grantowi]

Ray,

There is a John W Whitfield's death registered in 1919 in Middlesborough aged 21 in the GRO

Middlesbro / 9D / 649 / 4 qt / 1919

Grant

[Piorun]

If the lad died in '17, he'd only have been 18 years old and, while it's possible, it's not likely, especially given the other discrepancies. If he died in October 1919, it's also unlikely, tho' not impossible, that he would be listed by CWGC or SDGW. An MIC would only exist if the lad served overseas. Born in 1899, he'd only have been 15 when the War broke out but could have enlisted legally before it was over. The MIC posted is a possibility. Antony

[raysearcher]

Grantowi, on 14 February 2011 - 09:46 PM, said:

Ray,

There is a John W Whitfield's death registered in 1919 in Middlesborough aged 21 in the GRO

Middlesbro / 9D / 649 / 4 qt / 1919

Grant

Thanks Grant

I  now believe the above is John William Whitfield,s  Death Registration
it matches with the headstone
I have been doing a bit of digging on genealogy sites and I have Come up with the following

John William Whitfield was born in Middlesbrough  He can be found residing with his parents on the 1901 census  aged 2 at 69 Pelham Street Middlesbrough
His Parents as Memorial     (Father) Charles a Ships Steward  vessel "Nicolas" Fate presumed  Drowned in 1922 (mother ) Annie Whitfield nee Langley

His brother Charles  on the memorial died at Deolali near Bombay India

I now believe this is the grave of John William Whitfield
as the headstone has only a commemoration on it for his father and brother
there is no indication on the stone of anybody else interned in the grave
so logic tells me this is the final resting place of John William Whitfield

so it appears that John  William Died at home  
his death may or may not be attributed to his war service  as there is no Cwgc  Commemoration

and also between 1918-1919  this was the peak of the spanish influenza pandemic another possible cause of his death

I may consider obtaining his Death Cirtificate to see if he is a non Com

Regards Ray

[Phil_B]

The local newspaper or cemetery records should confirm it?

[John Hartley]

Ray

Well worth getting the death cert in this case to see what's what. Feel free to consult with us at the In From the Cold Project when you've got it. As I think you know, if it looks like a runner we are able to refund the certificate cost to you.

John

[raysearcher]

John Hartley, on 15 February 2011 - 04:19 PM, said:

Ray

Well worth getting the death cert in this case to see what's what. Feel free to consult with us at the In From the Cold Project when you've got it. As I think you know, if it looks like a runner we are able to refund the certificate cost to you.

John

Hi John
I am going to have a look in the  in the local reference library when time permits  ,to check out the  the local paper around the Time he died
before purchasing the death Cert

Regards Ray

[Grantowi]

Ray,

In TNA there is a seamans record for a Charles Arthur WHITFIELD, born Middlesborough - http://www.nationala...1&resultcount=9

I cant see in the census or the BDM's that your chaps father has Arthur as a middle name, but there is a Charles WHITFIELD in 1881 listed as an Engineers Steward (which sounds like a Navy title) aged 16.

Grant