The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 11:06 am Post subject: Alfred John Whitson HLI

Here's a wee puzzle for you to occupy a wet week-end Smile

The Pollok Street Church memorial (now in Kinning Park Church in Glasgow) lists an Alfred J. Whitson.
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic7770.html&highlight=pollok
and the Glasgow Roll of Honour has Whitson, Alfred J. Sergeant Highland Light Infantry 18 Percy Street Ibrox.
CWGC has
WHITSON, ALFRED JOHN
Rank:Serjeant
Service No:2506
Date of Death:15/09/1916
Age:23
Regiment/Service:Highland Light Infantry 9th (Glasgow Hds.) Bn.
Grave Reference:I. B. 11.
Cemetery:CONTALMAISON CHATEAU CEMETERY
Additional Information:Son of Walter Hill Whitson and Jeanie Bremner Whitson. Born at Paisley.

and the Headstone schedule has the next of kin as Miss E B Whitson of 18 Percy St. Paisley Rd West, Glasgow.

However the Grave registration documents show him as Private 40216 12th Bn. HLI with the same date of death.
And SNWM, SDGW and his Medal Card all have this rank/number/Bn.

Surname WHITSON
Forename Alfred J
Rank Pte
Service number 40216
Decoration
Place of birth
Date of death 15 September 1916
Theatre of death F&F
Cause of death Died of wounds.
SNWM roll THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Unit name Unknown Unit attached to THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Other detail 12th Bn.

The family were at Paisley Road West in 1911 and included two more brothers - Walter K. and Herbert A. Whitson.
Walter Kennedy Whitson served in the HLI as Private 2505 before getting a commission in the MGC - so it looks as though he enlisted with Alfred.
Herbert (the youngest) served in the ASC.

So how did Sgt 2506 9th HLI become Pte.40216 12th HLI ??????
_________________
Ken

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 2:52 pm Post subject:

Good question Ken!

There doesn't seem to be any confusion with other men buried in the cemetery due to similar names / numbers / units. He is the only "9th HLI" man buried there. The only 12th Bn man buried there died the next day.

On the grave registration document his entry has been edited and the J scored out even though it was correct. The Bn has been amended from 12/11th Bn and his surname has been edited too.

It's all very strange. This is one for the CWGC to have a look at I think.

Adam

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 3:41 pm Post subject:

Adam - you can't answer already. It's not raining - Yet!

He is also listed on the 12th Battalion service return at Scotlandspeople as Pte.40216 "Died of Wounds"

I've asked CWGC to have a look.
_________________
Ken

apanderson · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 9:00 pm Post subject:

Other sources:

MIC only has the one number - 40216 (no Battalion listed) and that his brother Kennedy Whitson applied for his medals 17th December 1922.
The correspondence address on the card is 18 Percy Street, Ibrox.

The 'Effects' Register also lists 40216, 12th Bn. (Father Walter).

No surviving service record that I can find at the moment. (I'm in Kinlochard this weekend and the internet is pathetically slow!)

Anne

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 7:07 am Post subject:

I had to get stuck in right away Ken. It's raining now so here's another post!

When I checked CWGC the other day I looked for 2056, I didn't look for 40216

This man with the same number died on the same day.

RENWICK, DAVID BYRES
Rank:Private
Service No:40216
Date of Death:15/09/1916
Regiment/Service:King's Own Scottish Borderers 7th/8th Bn.
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 4 A and 4 D.
Memorial:THIEPVAL

SNWM confirms his 40216 number.

Perhaps those who have access to FMP or Ancestry could do a quick check on this man's background to see if 2056 crops up? Bit of a long shot I know and probably a red herring but it's quite a coincidence that both men with the same number died on the same day.

It won't be wasted research as Renwick was a Dumfries-shire man

Adam

apanderson · Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 9:51 am Post subject:

Looking on SDWG, there are 10 men with the number 40216 (2 of them S/)

David Renwick (as Adam found), KOSB, born Dryfesdale, d.o.d 15th Sept 1916

and Alfred, J Whitson, HLI, born Glasgow, d.o.d same day.

There are 26 men with the number 2056 (including G/ D/ S/ SP/ and 16/) none of which are either of the above.

Anne

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 11:27 am Post subject:

As a complete side-issue - I mentioned earlier that "Walter Kennedy Whitson served in the HLI as Private 2505 before getting a commission in the MGC - so it looks as though he enlisted with Alfred."
and as Anne noted Walter survived the war and applied for Alfred's medals in 1922.
Well he had quite a record himself including the Military Cross:

The Edinburgh Gazette
Publication date:18 September 1918 Issue:13322 Page:3469
T./2nd Lt. Walter Kennedy Whitson, M.G. Corps.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. He fought his section unsupported
by infantry, and inflicted heavy casualties.
Seeing an artillery battery closely engaged
with the enemy he advanced his guns and
came into action, enabling the artillery to
withdraw. In accomplishing this his remaining
guns were destroyed. He then collected
200 men and held up the enemy advance
for nearly six hours. His courage
and initiative throughout were of a high
order.

and it turns out he was born in Maxwelltown, Kirkcudbrightshire in 1891 - so we are claiming him as one of ours Smile

_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 12:52 pm Post subject:

At the SMRG day yesterday the folk at the Mitchell Library tracked down a copy of the Bellahouston Academy Roll of Honour for me.

Printed in the 1920's, it contains an entry for Sergeant ALFRED JOHN WHITSON, 9th Highland Light Infantry.

"Sergeant Alfred John Whitson, third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Whitson, 18 Percy Street, Ibrox, enlisted in the 9th H.L.I. in September, 1914. He was promoted sergeant in 1915, and left with a draft for France in August, 1916. Before his new battalion (the 12th H.L.I.) went into action on the Somme, Sergeant Whitson was seriously wounded at Martinpuich by a shell on September 15th, and died in the Field Medical Ambulance the same day. 'The bravest man I ever attended,' the Field Medical Officer said. He is buried at Contalmaison. Sergeant Whitson, who was 22 years of age, was a law apprentice with Messrs Moncrieff, Warren & Paterson, West George Street."

I have already been in touch with the CWGC and they are continuing to investigate but it looks like Alfred was not yet formally "on the books" of the 12th Battalion when he died and therefore his previous rank, number and battalion were entered on the CWGC Register.
I have sent the above to them with the suggestion that his entry is amended to include "attached to 12th HLI".
_________________
Ken

apanderson · Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 4:24 pm Post subject:

He's on the Bellahouston Memorial, see: http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=6750&highlight=bellahouston+academy

Anne Smile