Name
Charles Jesse Whittaker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1916
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
27905
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Biography
Although known as Jesse, this man appeared as Charles, Charles Jesse and Jesse in the various records and tracing his story has been quite difficult. Charles J W Whittaker, born in 1893 at Abbots Langley was first recorded in the 1891 Census living at Hart Hall Lane Cottages, the son of Jesse and Louisa Whittaker. Jesse worked as a Paste Board Cutter at a Paper Mill and had four sons and two daughters. His eldest son, John, followed his father’s trade. At the time of the 1901 Census John was employed as a Paste Board Maker at a Paper Mill and was living at Disley, in Cheshire, and Charles Jesse was recorded as boarding with him, and working as a Paste Board Maker at a Paper Mill. By 1911 Charles Jesse had returned to Hart Hall Cottages, Railway Terrace, and was labouring in a Paper Mill.
Charles Jesse served with the Bedfordshire Regiment and was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in June 1916. By September 1916 he had been promoted to Lance Corporal and was with the 7th Battalion when he was killed in action on the Somme on 27th September 1916. The Battalion was engaged attacking the village of Thiepval. At 5.45 the attack began, and the Bedfordshire’s fought through a hail of machine gun and rifle fire to take the village. The battalion lost 112 casualties and the next day moved forward and attacked the Schwaben Redoubt to the north of Thiepval. In this action two other men from Abbots Langley – Douglas and Leslie Keep won Military Crosses, both being officers with 7th Bedfordshire’s.
In November 1916 edition of the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine the Vicar wrote
“Jesse Whittaker, of Railway Terrace, of 9th Beds (sic), is reported wounded and missing, and few hopes are entertained for his safety.”
It was not until several months later, in the May 1917 edition, that his death was confirmed.
“Charles Jesse Whittaker, of the 9th Beds (sic), who was reported wounded and missing last September under circumstances which permitted very little hope, has now been reported killed. He had been at the Front but a comparatively short time. His brother, Stephen Whittaker, of the same Regiment, was most seriously wounded in October, 1915, and is still in hospital. We offer our sincerest sympathy to the parents”.
Two of Charles Jesse’s brothers served during the Great War. Stephen served with the 7th Bedfordshire’s, and in the Herts Advertiser of 6th November 1916 he was reported wounded, before later being reported in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour as being Discharged . William Whittaker was serving as a Gunnery Officer at the HMS “Excellent” at Portsmouth at the time of the 1911 Census, and served with the Royal Navy throughout the War. Both Stephen and William survived*1. His cousins Charles and Arthur Whittaker also served and survived the War.
*1 Steven died in 1924 and according to the family headstone, this was due to his wounds.
Charles Jesse was commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme, and on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Additional Information
Charles and his brother Stephen are also commemorated on the family headstone in Abbots Langley (Saint Laurence) churchyard, his inscription reads:
“. . . ALSO CHARLES JESSE KILLED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 26. 1916 AND STEVEN WHO DIED OF WOUNDS SET. 26 1924 SONS OF THE ABOVE" (Jesse Whitaker)
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
