Name
Andrew Whitby
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
202809
Essex Regiment
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Royston Town Memorial, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Andrew Whitby – also known as ‘Drew’ - was identified though his pension card records and we are confident that he is the correct man, however there was some doubt as the Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) records that he was born in Hemel Hempstead, yet the census used here has him born in Wimpole, Cambs. However, Wimpole is roughly 7 miles from the Burloes Farm, as mentioned as his wife’s address in the pension records. These and a newspaper report found later confirms we have the correct man.
Andrew was born in 1891 in Wimpole, Cambs. and his parents were William and Sarah Whitby.
In 1891 the family were living at No. 6 New Wimpole, Cambs.. Present were both parents: William (39) and Sarah (40), with William working as an agricultural labourer. Their children were: Charles (12), Albert (11), Frank (9), William (7), James (5), Emma J (3) and Andrew at two months. William’s widowed mother, Ruth Whitby (79), was also present.
In 1901 the family were living at Cambridge Road, Wimpole, Cambs. Present were both parents, with William working as an agricultural labourer on a farm. Of the children listed above the three older brothers and Emma are missing James and Andrew are present, plus new sibling Sidney (6).
By 1911 the family were still living at Wimpole, but the address given as Wimpole, Royston, Herts,. Present were both parents and Andrew, now 21. Both father and son, both working on farm. The census recorded William and Sarah had been married for 31 years with 7 children, all living.
Andrew married Florence Winifred Stoten (b 19/4/1895) on 5 April 1914 in Royston. They went on to have two children Gladys May (b 10/7/1914) and John Andrew (b 5/2/1917).
Andrew was a pre-war Herts Territorial soldier in the Hertfordshire Regiment, serving with “E” Company with the service number 2317, meaning that he enlisted between 28 January 1913 and 1 January 1914.
Before the war he had been the driver of Mr Hagger’s milk cart from Wimpole to Royston and had worked at Burloes Farm, and given the pension records he was at Burloes Farm when he was called to serve abroad.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hemel Hempstead, Herts. and enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Although already a Herts Territorial soldier when war was declared, he does not appear to have volunteered for overseas duty as many did. His medal cards confirm that he did not serve overseas until at least 1916, and the newspaper reported that he went in January 1917. He was certainly with them in early 1917 as he was re-numbered to 265389, when soldiers who had enlisted in, or were serving in, a Territorial Force regiment were issued with a new, six-digit service number. He was also promoted to Acting Sergeant with them, suggesting he was already a Corporal.
SDITGW suggests that he also served as 29809, in the Bedfordshire Regiment, but no confirmation of this has been found. He certainly served as a Corporal 202809 with the 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Bay 7 of the Arras Memorial to the Missing in France.
Andrew’s death was reported in the Herts Mercury on 13 July 1918, nearly four months after his death and, although not mentioned, this and the fact that he is names amongst the missing, suggests that he had been listed as missing before presumed killed in action.
The report confirms he was the sixth son of William Whitby, who was living at Eagle Tavern Cottages, Royston, Herts. Andrew was known locally as ‘Drew’ and had been the driver of Mr Hagger’s milk cart from Wimpole to Royston been the driver of Mr Hagger’s milk cart from Wimpole to Royston.
Additional Information
After his death £4 9s 9d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Florence, on 9 July 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £18 was authorised to be paid to her on 4 December 1919.
His pension cards record Florence Whitby as his widow and as his next of kin, originally living at Burloes Farm, Royston Herts. – later amended to Wills Cottage, Walsworth, nr. Hitchin. It also records their children as Gladys May (b 10/7/1914) and John Andrew (b 5/2/1917). She was awarded a pension of 26s 8d a week from 14 October 1918.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
