Name
Kenneth Ronald MacLaren Wheater
30 Jul 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/05/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Royal Engineers
4th Special Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEAULENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, LIGNY-THILLOY
III. E. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, Berkhamsted School Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Kenneth Ronald Maclaren Wheater was born on 30 July 1894 at Sowerby, Thirsk, Yorkshire, the son of Thomas Snowball Wheater and Julia Wheater (nee Walker). He was one of three children, having two sisters, Hermione and Olive.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Gaddesden Hall Farm, Great Gaddesden, Herts, at which time his father was working as a stockjobber's clerk. By 1911 they had moved to 1 Kitsbury Terrace, Berkhamsted and his father's occupation was then described as stock broker.
He was educated at Berkhamsted School and Imperial College, London where he gained a Bachelor of Science degree.
His father later served as golf club secretary in Berkhamsted and lived at Meadow Cottage, Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
He initially enlisted in London on 15 September 1914 and joined the 18th Service Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers as a Private. He transferred to the Royal Engineers and served in France from 14 May 1915, being promoted to Corporal on 15 May 1915 and Sergeant with the 187th Special Company on 31 August 1915.
During the Battle of Loos in September 1915, he suffered a gun shot wound to the abdomen and was repatriated to England on 2 October 1915. He returned to France on 29 August 1916 and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant on 30 August.
Kenneth was killed in action on 6 May 1917, aged 22, and initially buried near where he fell, later being exhumed and re-buried in Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy, France
Additional Information
His father obtained probate of his estate on 7 November 1917 in London with effects of £215 15s 7d. He received a war gratuity of £14 and pay owing of £57 10s 8d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
