Private Sidney Whittemore

Private Sidney Whittemore 

Friday 27th November 1914: Private Sidney Whittemore of 10 Park Way, Luton and 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action, with so many of his colleagues, on 7th November near Ypres, leaving a widow and three little children. His parents were Mr and Mrs George Whittemore, who live at Stopsley. He was a reservist and prior to the war was working in the employ of Messrs T. Balmforth and Company, boilermakers. On the reserves being called up on the outbreak of war he was for a short time with the 3rd Battalion at Felixstowe. The night before he was killed his brother George was taken from the trenches severely wounded and is now in the 4th London General Hospital, having lost one eye[1].

For some time no information could be obtained as to the deceased, but a letter has now been received from Private Walter Spary[2], another Luton man, who was in the employ of Messrs Balmforth’s until the war broke out and who is now lying wounded at Beckenham Hospital. Pte Spary wrote: “Dear Friend – I can only say much to my sorrow and regret, that it is only too true about your brother Sid being killed in action. I feel it very much myself, being that Sid and I were great chums, as we enlisted together, went through South Africa together, worked together and also were together at the front at Ypres, where this engagement took place”.

“The night previous, November 6th, Sid’s brother George came from the trenches wounded in the head and he asked me to tell Sid that he was hit and gone to hospital, but I didn’t see Sid to tell him any more alive”.

Source: Luton News 3rd November 1914

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[1] Happily, he seems to have survived the war.
[2] Again, he seems to have survived.