BORN WOOTEN, LINCOLNSHIRE, 1893. SON OF CHRISTOPHER GEORGE WHITELAM (1865-1937) & GEORGINA COOK (1859-1943), AT 47 , ELLA STREET, HULL (ARMY RECORDS ADDRESS). BOTH HIS PARENTS WERE BORN IN WOOTEN, LINCOLNSHIRE. HIS FATHER WAS A WHOLESALE MEAT SALESMAN.
HE HAD ONE BROTHER, LEWIS (1897-1916) AND ONE SISTER, DOROTHY MAY (1898-1931).
HE WAS EDUCATED AT HULL GRAMMAR SCHOOL. WORKED AS A BANK CLERK. LIVED WITH HIS AUNTIE, BETSEY COOK, AT WOOTEN HOUSE, WESTBOURNE PARK, SCARBOROUGH (1911 CENSUS).
HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY IN 1913. JOINED AS PRIVATE, 1713, 1/5TH YORKS. POSTED TO FRANCE, WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, ON 9 AUGUST 1914.
BEGAN OFFICER TRAINING, ON 20 NOV 1914. COMMISSIONED AS 2ND LIEUTENANT AND TRANSFERRED TO THE 7TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, ON 1 FED 1916. SAW ACTION AT ALBERT, SOMME, 1 JULY 1916. APPOINTED ACTING CAPTAIN IN 1916. SERVED AT THE BATTLES OF ARRAS, ON 9 APRIL 1917 & PASSCHENDAELE, 31 JULY 1917.
HE MARRIED ADELAIDE MARY CANHAM (1897-1966), AT STAFFORD IN JUNE 1918.
RETURNED TO FRANCE FOR THE BATTLES OF EPEHY, 18 SEPT 1918 AND CAMBRAI, 8 OCT 1918.
GRANTED RANK OF CAPTAIN, ON 11 NOV 1920.
HE RETURNED TO WOOTEN HOUSE, SCARBOROUGH (1921 CENSUS) AND MOVED TO “SAN SOUCI” (NO WORRIES), KINGS LANGLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE.
HE DIED THERE ON 22 DEC 1926, AGED 33, JUST BEFORE THE BIRTH OF HIS DAUGHTER, CHRISTINE.
HE IS BURIED AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH, KINGS LANGLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE. HE LEFT £847 IN HIS WILL TO HIS WIDOW.
HIS ONLY BROTHER, 2ND LIEUTENANT, LEWIS WHITELAM, 5TH WEST RIDING REGIMENT, WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 3 SEPT 1916, AGED 19.
Thank You to Lyn Jones for the above information 22/02/2025.
