Name
James Wilfred Whitehorn
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/04/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14684
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FIRST D.C.L.I. CEMETERY, THE BLUFF
Row D, Grave 22.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford,
Beechen Grove Baptist Church Memorial, Watford,
Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford,
Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of Albert and Mary Jane (formerly BASTIQUE, nee GREENLAND) WHITEHORN of Watford.
His parents married 25 June 1890 at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent. Albert died 1922 in Watford aged 78, and was buried 16 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Mary died 1935 in Watford aged 81, and was buried 27 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
James was born 5 May 1895 in Watford, and baptised 7 July 1895 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended first Red Lion Yard Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 14 January 1901 to 31 July 1907, where he passed the written examination for County Council Scholarships to Watford Grammar School from September 1907 to July 1910. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, a apprentice mechanical engineer aged 15, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 24 March 1915, and was killed in action at Hill 60.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“WHITEHORN, JAMES WILFRED. School period: September, 1907, to July, 1910. Private, 1st Bedfordshire Regiment. Enlisted September, 1914. France. Killed on Hill 60 20th April, 1915.”
Unfortunately, James’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There are articles about James in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 1 May 1915, and in the Watford Illustrated dated 8 May 1915; a Death announcement in the Observer dated 15 May 1915; plus In Memoriam from the Grammar School in the issue dated 31 July 1915.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
