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Remembered Today:Captain John Walton WHITEHEAD, 246 Brigade Royal Field Artillery, who died on 1st December 1917, Tyne Cott Memorial
WHITEHEAD, JOHN WALTON
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 01/12/1917
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
''B'' Bty. 246th (West Riding) Bde
Additional Information:
Son of John Henry and Sarah Whitehead, of Low Royd, Apperley Bridge, Bradford, Yorks.
John Walton Whithead was born 30th March 1889 in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the first child to John Henry and Sarah Whitehead (nee Mackintyre). He was baptised at Headingly Hill Chapel, Leeds. At that point his parents were living in 4 Morland Road, Leeds. His fathers occupation is listed as machine maker.
By 1891 John Walton had a sister, and machine making must have been lucrative as the family employed a cook/domestic and a nurse/domestic. They were now living at 126 Low Royd, Bradford. By 1911, the family had grown with 2 brothers, 3 sisters and still employing two servants.
The Army List of 1916 records joining him the territorial 2nd West Riding Brigade, 5th West Riding Battery 1st January 1915. The brigade would renumber to 246th Brigade RFA, the battery becoming B Battery. The 246th Brigade RFA were part of the Territorial 49th (West Riding) Division who had deployed to France in April 1915. John Walton Whithead's MIC records him entering theatre 1st January 1916. Consequently he qualified for the Victory medal and British War Medal.
The Long Long Trail 49th Wast Riding Div details the following actions for the division from John Walton from entering theatre till his death:
The Battle of Albert*
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge*
The Battle of Pozieres Ridge*
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette*
* the battles marked * are phases of the Battles of the Somme 1916
1917
Operations on the Flanders Coast (Hush)
The Battle of Poelcapelle**
** the battle marked ** is a phase of the Third Battles of the Ypres
Captain John Walton Whithead was killed in action 1st December 1917 and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the memorial wall at TYNE COT.
He left his estate of £2,325 (worth £160,000 today) to his father.
John Walton would not be the only son the Whiteheads would loose. Jasper Mackintyre Whitehead died 19th December 1918 (CWGC Information) whilst serving with the 3rd Battalion London Regiment Royal Fusiliers. He is burried EPEHY WOOD FARM CEMETERY, EPEHY
Both brothers are remembered on the grave of their father and mother in At Peter's Churchyard, in Rawdon, Yorkshire.
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