Thursday 30th March 1916: The adjutant of the 1st Battalion at
Saint-Laurent-Blangy near Arras tells us that Lieutenant Frank Whittemore was
killed yesterday. He was out on patrol with Sergeant Quince and Private A Winch
and was mortally wounded. In spite of the efforts by the sergeant and private
to bring back his body under rifle and grenade fire, it was impossible to recover
it. Thus, like tens of thousands of soldiers already in this war Lieutenant
Whittemore suffers the double indignity of being killed and going unburied –
his body left to decay in no man’s land(1)
Lieutenant
Whittemore was nearly 40 years old, was educated at Bedford and joined as a
private in the 2nd Battalion in 1893.
After serving for some time in England he was transferred to the 1st Battalion
with which he served in India. Rejoining the 2nd Battalion, the deceased served
in the Boer War, taking part in operations in Orange River Colony and the
Transvaal for which he received the Queen’s Medal, with three clasps. Returning
from South Africa he remained in England for three years and then left again
with the 2nd Battalion, being ultimately stationed in Gibraltar, where he was
promoted to Company Sergeant Major, Bermuda and South Africa. On his return to
England he be mobilised for the present war and was through the first Battle of
Ypres, where he received his commission. Being wounded he returned home and
after recovering was posted to the 1st Battalion with which he saw fighting at
Hill 60. For his bravery here he was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette, 1st January 1916 and was
shortly afterwards awarded the Military Cross for services in the field. Here
also he was gassed and again wounded. The dead lieutenant leaves a widow and
four children.
Source: Bedfordshire Times, 20th April 1916
(1)
Lieutenant Whittemore indeed has no known grave and is commemorated on the
Arras Memorial. Sergeant Edward Quince MM from Sandy would be killed on the Somme
on 27th July 1916 and likewise go unburied, being commemorated on the Thiepval
Memorial.
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