BORN WOOTEN, LINCOLNSHIRE, 1897. SON OF CHRISTOPHER GEORGE WHITELAM (1865-1937) & GEORGINA COOK (1859-), AT THIS ARMY RECORDS ADDRESS. HIS FATHER WAS A WHOLESALE MEAT SALESMAN. HE WAS EDUCATED AT HULL GRAMMAR SCHOOL. EMPLOYED IN THE OFFICES OF THE WILSON SHIPPING LINE COMPANY.
LEWIS WHITELAM JOINED THE INNS OF COURT Q.T.C., SOON AFTER WAR WAS DECLARED. HE ENLISTED AS PRIVATE, 4437, IN THE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS. COMMISSIONED AS SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE 5TH DUKE OF WELLINGTONS (WEST RIDING) REGIMENT. HE WENT TO FRANCE IN MAY 1916 AND SAW SEVERE FIGHTING DURING THE SOMME OFFENSIVE. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, AT THE SOMME ON 03/09/1916, AGED 19 AND IS COMMEMORATED ON THE THIEPVAL MEMORIAL TO THE MISSING. A SINGLE MAN. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS FATHER.
HIS DEATH & PHOTOGRAPH WERE REPORTED IN HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 23/06/1917. *
HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON THE HULL GRAMMAR WW1 MEMORIAL.
HIS ONLY BROTHER, HAROLD CHRISTOPHER WHITELAM, SERVED AS A LIEUTENANT IN THE 7TH EAST YORKSHIRE BATTALION AND AS CAPTAIN IN THE 5TH YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE WAS INVALIDED HOME WITH WAR WOUNDS IN 1916 AND DIED ON 22/12/1926, AGED 33.
