Frank Leslie Whittaker (1895 - 1915)

Biography

Frank Leslie Whittaker was born in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire in mid 1895.^[1]

In the 1901 census, Frank is the youngest member of the Whittaker family living in Shobnall Street, Burton on Trent.^[2]

By 1911, 15 year old Frank was working as Brewer's Clerk, as was his older brother. Thier father's occupation at this time was a Brewer. The family are still living in Shobnall Street.^[3]

In September 1914, Frank enlisted in the 6th North Staffordshire Regiment. He served in France and was injured at the Battle of Loos on 13 October 1915. "The young soldier was wounded by an explosive bullet during the charge of the North Midland Division on October 13th"^[4]

He returned to the UK to recuperate, but died of his injuries on 5 November 1915^[5] at the Wharncliffe War Hospital near Sheffield, Yorkshire where he is remembered in their Roll of Honour.^[6] Cause of death is formerly recorded as "1. Septic gunshot wound left lumbar region 23 days. 2. Fracture (something) Pulmonary embolus"^[7] but the local newspaper reported "a clot of blood reached the heart"^[8]

His funeral took place in Burton on November 9th and he was buried with military honours in Stapenhill Cemetery.^[9][10][11] Soldiers from the 6th North Staffordshire Regiment paraded outside the house of Mr & Mrs Whittaker. At St Paul's church (where Frank had been a choirboy) the Church Lad's Brigade joined more soldiers of the regiment to form a guard of honour. After the service the courtage reformed and slow-marched to the cemetery, the coffin draped in the Union Jack and surrounded with wreaths, the rear brought up by a large number of Territorials. Crowds lined the streets and doffed their hats. There was a large attendance in the cemetery where the service concluded with three volleys being fired over the grave and the sounding of the Last Post. ^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2F3S-BN3 : accessed 7 December 2014), Frank Leslie Whittaker, 1895.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XS7K-W24 : accessed 7 December 2014), Frank L Whittaker, Burton Extra, Staffordshire, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," index and images, findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk : DC Thomson, n.d.); PRO RG 13, county, registration district, subdistrict, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XW7V-1KF : accessed 7 December 2014), Frank L Whittaker, Burton Upon Trent, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England; from "1911 England and Wales census," index and images, findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk : DC Thomson, n.d.); PRO RG 14, county, registration district, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ Burton Daily Mail 8 November 1915 accessed via findmypast.co.uk
5. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JWV-MQN : accessed 8 November 2015), Frank L Whittaker, 1915; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Wortley, Yorkshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
6. ↑ http://www.wharncliffewarhospital.co.uk/search4.php?id=8147
7. ↑ Death Certificate DYD793510 (Frank Leslie Whitaker)
8. ↑ Burton Daily Mail 10 November 1915 accessed via findmypast.co.uk
9. ↑ http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/395889/WHITTAKER,%20F%20L
10. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=223764&GRid=59586873&
11. ↑ http://www.wharncliffewarhospital.co.uk/Men/W/Whittaker_FL.html
12. ↑ Precis of report in the Burton Daily Mail 10 November 1915 accessed via findmypast.co.uk

See also:

• Burton Boys - Burton upon Trent and the First World War.
  Robert Cox, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-9556855-1-0
  Frank is not mentioned, although the 1/6th Staffordshires are included.