Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Freeman Clarence Whitehouse, known as Clarence, was born 1890 in Barton, Yorkshire, one of 6 surviving children (2 deceased) 4 boys and 2 girls born to George Whitehouse (1858 Bishop Auckland - 1933 Shildon) and Sarah Ann Capes (1855 Shildon - 1925 Bishop Auckland). George migrated north from Yorkshire and in 1881 was a boarder at the house of Mrs Sarah Simpson and her 4 children in Shildon. He married her daughter from her first marriage Sarah Ann Capes October 1881 in Bishop Auckland. At the time he was working as a foreman at the colliery but went on to work as a hewer. Clarence in 1911 was working below ground at the colliery as a putter.
Clarence underwent a medical examination December 10th 1915 in Spennymoor and was posted to the the Army Reserve. It was not until June 6th 1918 that he was mobilised as Private 95887 Durham Light Infantry 3rd Battalion and posted to South Shields. October 15th 1918 his Battalion embarked at Folkestone bound for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, arriving at Boulogne. The following day October 16th he was transferred to the 13th Battalion D. L. I. and joined them at the front on the 18th. Private (Freeman) Clarence Whitehouse was killed in action six days later October 24th 1918 during the Battle of the Selle. He is interred at Cross Road Cemetery, Fontaine-au-Bois, 8 kilometres north of La Cateau, France, grave II. I. 13. His gravestone bears a dedication commissioned at the cost of 4/1 (four shillings and one pence) by his father and reads, “EVER REMEMBERED”. Clarence was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and they were sent to his family at 35, Parkin Street, Merrington Lane, Spennymoor. He was 28 years old and unmarried.
His mother Sarah Ann died in 1925 and his father George in 1933 leaving probate, in the sum of £33-3s-4d (thirty three pounds three shillings and four pence), to his eldest son Frederick Whitehouse.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Freeman Clarence Whitehouse is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12, at Spennymoor on S131.02 and S131.11 and at Tudhoe Grange on T61.02
