| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
William Frank Whittaker, the son of William and Harriet Whittaker was born the 1 Sep 1887 at Mulbarton, near Norwich.
Private 8110 William Frank Whittaker enlisted in the 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment in 1905. Three years later he was posted to the Depot at Victoria Barracks, Beverley and while serving there he met Ada Everingham, from Walkington. William and Ada married at Beverley Minster in 1910. They lived in Queensgate, where five of their seven children were born. In Apr 1913, having completed eight years service with the Regiment, William transferred to the Army Reserve. He found employment as a porter with a local furnishing company. At the outbreak of war he was recalled to the Colours on the 5 Aug 1914.
The 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, in the 18th Brigade of the 6th Division, British Expeditionary Force embarked at Southampton aboard the S.S. Cawdor Castle on 8 Sep 1914 and arrived at St Nazaire the following day. By train and route march they set off for the Western Front. In 1916 the Battalion transferred to the 64th Brigade in the 21st Division. Throughout the war the 1st East Yorkshires saw action in all the major battles and suffered heavy losses. William served with the 1st Battalion throughout the war, he received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914 Star.
William was demobilized to the 'Z' Reserve in 1919. He returned to his wife and family in Queensgate, working as an ironmonger's assistant and then the caretaker of Beverley Grammar School. Between 1940 and 1950 he was on the staff of the Council at the Weights and Measures Department. In 1939, William joined the 3rd (Beverley) Battalion of the Home Guard and served with them until they were disbanded in 1944.
William died on 24 Feb 1950, aged 62, Ada died on 3 Apr 1974, aged 84. They are both buried in Queensgate Cemetery.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |