In Delville Wood Cemetery, Longevalle, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 1231 Private John William Whann, serving with the 1st/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 15/09/1916.
Soldiers Died in the Great War states that he was born in Bellingham and enlisted at Haltwhistle.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following;
John William Whann was the eldest of 3 children.
His father William Whann was born at Dumfries, Scotland in circa 1869 and married in the district of Bellingham, Northumberland, in 1893 Ursula Riddle Hall. A local girl she was born at Bellingham, Northumberland, in 1861. She was the daughter of labourer John Hall and Elizabeth Riddle.
Their son John William Whann was born in the parish of Corsenside, Northumberland, in 1893, their only daughter Ann Elizabeth at Bellingham in 1896. In 1901 they were living at Tarset Lodge, Charlton West, in the parish of Bellingham, Northumberland, where William Whann was a farm servant/shepherd at Hawkhope Farm employed by farmer Matthew Hedley and his wife. . Their youngest child George was born in 1903 at Tarset. In 1911 they occupied Tarset Cottage, but only William, listed as married, Ann Elizabeth and George were at the address on the eve of the census.Ursula had been admitted, June 10th 1910 to the County Mental Hospital, Morpeth, previously known as the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum (UK Lunacy Patients Admission Register 1846-1921). John William was living and working as a farm labourer employed by farmer Robert Armstrong and his wife at Greengate Well, Greenhead.
As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany which was declared within hours of Germany, as part of a massive attack on France, invaded Belgium violating Belgian neutrality. After a request to Britain by the Belgians for help, London gave Berlin an ultimatum which expired August 4th 1914 at 11 p.m. London time. When this was ignored, King George V then declared war on Germany that same evening. In answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country.
As a farm worker John William Whann was not under any obligation to enlist as farming was one of the many reserve occupations, however, he was one of the first to come forward at The Armoury, Town Hall Crescent, Haltwhistle, Northumberland, one of several H.Q.s of the 1st/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers to which he was assigned as Private 1231. As a Territorial Force the battalion initially took on a defensive role but after additional training at Newcastle Upon Tyne embarked to France in April 1915.
Private Whann disembarked at Boulogne in France, April 20th 1915. Marched to St. Martin’s Rest Camp, three miles from the dock the 1/4th Battalion N.F. was attached to the 149th Northumberland Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. April 21st 1915 they left the camp and marched with the division to the railway station at Port de Briques departing for Bavinchove where they went into billets at a nearby farm. Still inexperienced and without any nursery training the men of the 1st/4th Battalion within days were fighting for their lives during the 2nd Battle of Ypres in Belgium, April 22nd-May 25th 1915,
The village of St. Julien, just north of Ypres, was taken by the Germans, April 25th 1915, using gas for the first time. The 1/4th Battalion N.F. were in action during the Battle of St. Julien, April 24th-May 4th, followed by the Battle of Frezenburg Ridge, May 8th-15th and Bellewaarde Ridge, May 24th-25th 1915.
During 1916 they returned to France, their first major encounter on the Somme in 1916 was during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, during which Private 1231 John William Whann was killed in action and buried by his comrades on the battlefield, a cross bearing his name and regimental details was raised to mark the spot.
Ursula Riddle Whann nee Hall never knew the fate that befell her dear son as she had died at Morpeth Asylum, Northumberland, February 27th 1915.
Private Whann had nominated his aunt Miss Margaret Ann Hall as sole legatee of his effects, she received all monies due to her late nephew from the Army. His father William, a farmer at High Fold Farm, Helmington Row, Crook, County Durham, applied for a dependant’s pension. It is unclear if he received this and by 1917 he was living at Cowshill, Weardale, County Durham.
After the Armistice of November 11th 1918 at the request of the French and Belgian Governments the clearing of the battlefields began. Isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries for reburial. The remains of Private Whann and others of the Northumberland Fusiliers and East Surrey Regiment were found in a concentration at map reference 57c. B. 3. C. 7. 4. Although the original crosses still marked their graves full recognition could only be made in regards of 1 East Surrey and 4 Privates of the Northumberland Fusiliers including Private Whann.
His father would have been informed of the necessity that the remains of his late son be exhumed and assured that reburial would take place with all honour and reverence in the presence of an Army Chaplain. Private 1231 John William Whann Northumberland Fusiliers is now at rest within Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, grave XX. I. 8., all works completed June 12th 1920. At the time of his demise in 1916 Private Whann was 23 years of age and single. Awards 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William Whann died aged 87 years in the district of Darlington, County Durham, in 1956.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Acknowledgment: Heather Ross.
John William Whann is remembered at Haltwhistle on H5.01 and H5.06 as Whan, at Hexham on H51.30 and at Wearhead on W133.01.
