John Edmund Whitham was born in Milnrow, Rochdale on 6 December 1895 and baptised on 29 December. He was the first of three children of Samuel Taylor Whitham and his wife Sarah Horner who married earlier that year. Twins were born on 13 January 1901 and baptised on 16 January in Milnow. Whilst daughter Mary Ellen survived, sadly William Henry died shortly after.
As an aside, the three children were named identically to three of Samuel's younger siblings. Even the twins were named after his twin siblings and, coincidentally, that William Henry also died in infancy whilst Mary Ellen survived into adulthood. The older John Edmund Whitham died aged 19 in the year before the younger one was born.
In the Census taken on 31 March 1901, the Whitham family were recorded at 25 Dale Street, Milnrow. Samuel's occupation was a cotton warper. The family moved to nearby Equitable Street before relocating to the Fylde around 1910. In the Census of 2 April 1911 the family were living at 12 Stephen Street, St. Annes-on-Sea. Samuel was employed at as a commercial traveller for a mill furbisher. John, then aged 15 was a student. It was around 1912 that the family moved home to our area taking up residence at Ravenswood, Victoria Road (East), Thornton. , After leaving school, John joined in business with his father in the Manchester-based firm of S.T. Whitham & Son, coal shippers and general mill furnishers.
In Blackpool on 5 November 1914, John attested as a Trooper, service number 3149, in the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards (part of the Household Cavalry). On 5 December 1915 he was appointed to a commission in the 3/2 Lancashire Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. John was sent to France on 14 August 1916 and was killed in action on the Somme on 20 October. He was aged 20 and unmarried.
John's father received this letter, dated 27 October, from Major Randolph Machattie Powell, the officer commanding the Siege Battery. "He was a boy I was proud to have under me - always loyal, always cheerful. He did his work with the greatest efficiency, and his men were devoted to him. What more can I say? His loss leaves a very wide gap in the battery. His end must have been quite painless, as by the time I reached him he was unconscious. He can have suffered no pain. You have my sincere sympathy. Great loss as he is to us, I know what it must mean to you. I can only say that during his service in France he upheld the highest traditions of those that have gone before. Please accept my most sincere sympathy with you in your loss."
Sec. Lt. John Edmund Whitham, Royal Garrison Artillery, is buried in Plot 2, Row D, Grave 1 in Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
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