Chester-le-Street Chronicle 14/05/1915
Chester-le-Street Chronicle 14/05/1915
Chester-le-Street Chronicle 21/05/1915
Menin Gate Memorial
Ernest Whitmore was born on the 20th May 1894, son of Alfred and Alice (nee Crozier). He was baptised at St. John’s Parish Church, Birtley on the 14th June and the address given was Low Urpeth.
He had 3 siblings: Jane Sarah born 1892, John born 1896, and Philip born 1899. In 1901 the family can be found at 39 Douglas Terrace, Usworth.
In 1911 the family are separated, as Ernest and his sister Jane Sarah are living at 29 King Street, Birtley with their Uncle and Aunt, Thomas and Jane Finlay and their family.
Parents Alfred and Alice are living at 40 Mount Pleasant, Birtley with children John and Philip and other family members.
At this time Ernest is employed as a miner (underground) but he would later work as a Green Grocer. He enlisted in the 1/8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry at Birtley, Durham, and landed in France on the 19th April 1915.
Prior to his departure, Ernest married Ada Turnbull on the 10th April 1915 at Gateshead. He gave his address as Sunderland Road School, Gateshead, as this is where the 8th Battalion D.L.I. were billeted before they received their orders to leave for France.
Three weeks after he was married, on the 2nd May 1915, Ernest was killed. He was 20 years old.
His son, also called Ernest, was born on the 6th October 1915 at South Farm Cottage, Lamesley.
Source:- Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 21/05/1915.
ROLL OF HONOUR
A SAD CASE
Mrs. Whitmore, who lives at Carnation Street, Birtley, on Monday, May 3rd, received a letter from her son, Private Whitmore, 8th D.L.I., serving at the front, a letter which read as follows: I am quite well. The Major and I are in a dug out about five minutes walk from the transport lines. My horses Dobbin and Bobbie are both dead. We are several miles from anywhere, but we are having a decent time of it here. I enclose a few forget-me-nots. Take great care of them until I get back.
On May 5th, two days after the previous letter was received, another came from Major Smeddle, addressed to Mrs. Whitmore, which informed her that on May 1st, exactly three weeks after she was married, her husband had been killed and that he was actually dead when the letter containing the forget-me-nots for both herself and her husband’s mother was received. The letter was as follows:"Dear Mrs. Whitmore, I very much regret to inform you that your husband was killed in action yesterday, May 1st. He was buried with much sympathy by his comrades. I must say he was acting as my orderly, and had left me for a short time to do some duty when he was caught by a stray shell. I sincerely sympathise with you, for you have no doubt lost a good husband and the country has lost a good soldier. You have the satisfaction of knowing that he died for his country. I have also lost a good and faithful orderly. His place will be hard to fill. The horse he attended to (my charger), was also killed a few days ago. It must be a great trial to you, and you have my sincere sympathy. We are having a strenuous time here, but have the satisfaction of knowing that the Germans are being held back, and are not getting through as they expected to do. With kind regards and much sympathy" – J. S. Smeddle, Major.
The valuables of the deceased have been returned to his home.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle 1915
WHITMORE – Killed in action, May 1st in France, Pte. Ernest Whitmore, aged 20 years, dearly beloved husband of Ada Whitmore and the eldest son of Alfred and Alice Whitmore, 51, Carnation Street, Birtley. Loved by all
*Brother of Private Philip Whitmore, 5/31876, 53rd Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) who died on 28th November 1917, age 18.
Source: Jean Atkinson
He is remembered in Birtley on B127.13 in Gateshead in G39.004 page 84, and the Boys of Birtley
