Do you live in Hartlepool - Charitable Request

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Hello, I am putting the finishing touches to a book of the Liverpool Pals who were killed on 1/7/16 (257 officers and men - have found 144 photos). The proceeds of this book will be in aid of a charitable project to erect a Liverpool Pals Memorial in Lime St Station, Liverpool. One of the officers who was killed was Lt Basil Withy who was from West Hartlepool and who was a member of a wealthy ship-owning family. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of him but I am fairly sure that there is one in the local contemporary Hartlepool newspapers. I have written to the local library but did not receive a reply so would be extremely grateful if some kind individual could visit the library and check out the local papers - you would of course be credited for your efforts. Many thanks. Joe

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Bump

[David_Blanchard]

There are soldiers from Harlepool in the "Illustrated

Chronicle" which is a Newcastle newspaper but covers most of the North East. There is a collection of the newspaper in Newcastle Central Library.

I think you need to find someone who could have a look there or contact the library.

David

[Hett65]

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Although I do not live in Hartlepool, (I am about 20 miles away), I will pay a visit in the next week or two and have a look in the papers and any files they may have on the 'shipping' family.

John

[daggers]

Is that the Furness Withy company?

[Hett65]

Daggers

Thats correct, I just did a check and found he served his apprenticeship with Messrs Furness Withy & Co and later worked for Messrs Denny & Bros where he was working as a naval architect in the scientific department of the firm.

John

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All - Many thanks for your interest and will hold off on any final pagination until it can be determined whether a photo exists or not.- Hett65 your help is certainly much appreciated. Best wishes Joe

[Hett65]

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Visited Hartlepool library today and checked the local papers from July until 20th August and the only information I found was as follows;

Northern Daily Mail for Wednesday 5th July 1916. Heading; Local officers death from wounds. A telegram has been received from the War Office stating that Lieutenant Basil Withy of the Kings Liverpool Regiment, son of Mr H. Withy of Brantford House was seriously wounded in France on July 1st, and died of wounds on July 2nd.

He is not recorded in a book 'Hartlepool casualties of the 1st WW' and not named in a book, 'Index of names extracted from local papers', which I find strange as I found him as above, and he is also on panel 12 of the local war memorial. (I was unable to photograph this for you today as it was raining). I also found 'The 25th annual report of Messrs Furness, Withy & Co, Ltd' in the edition of 31st July and was hoping that some mention may have been made of Withy's son, but unfortunately no mention was made of him. There were no photographs or obituaries of any officers in the papers, I found this unusual as most papers of the time gave details of officer casualties.

The library staff in the 'local studies section' were excellent, and at one point three of them were helping me trying to find something on Withy, they were quite surprised that for a son of a prominent man in the town that no obituary was recorded. We also checked books for photographs of Henry Withy, Basil's father, and also for the company without success.

Are you aware his name is recorded on the war memorial at St Augustine's Episcopal Church, High Street, Dumbarton, Scotland?. He was working with the Dumbarton Red Cross just before he enlisted, it is possible that there may be a photograph of him in a local paper in Dumbarton. I have an article from The Times on him, and also quite a bit of history of his family, if you would like this please message me with your e-mail address and I will forward it to you.

Regards

John

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Once again the GWF at its best - a big public thankyou to John who gave his own time to try and help a worthwile project. Well done! I have sent you a PM John. Joe

[grendav2001]

northern daily mail

west hartlepool

6 july 1916

on the 2cnd inst., in hospital in france, from wounds received, lieutenant basil withy, 18th king's liverpool regiment, dearly beloved youngest son of h withy, brantford house, west hartlepool.

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there is no 1917 roll of honour notice in the paper.

[Anniespangles]

Hi,everyone this is the information I have on Basil Withy.I obtained the information from the roll of honour booklet compiled by the members of the Dumbarton Kilwinning lodge no,18 ,the freemason lodge of which Basil Withy was a member. He was part of the 18th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment,his rank was Liutenant. Basil lived in Dumbuck House (now a hotel) Glasgow road Dumbarton,his parents address was Bradford House West Hartlepool.His parents were Henry and Mary (Forrest) Withy.He became a full member of freemason lodge Dumbarton Kilwinning No18 on the 9.3.1910 aged 24 years. Basil Withy was killed on Sunday the 6th of July 1916 aged 30 years.He is buried at La Neuville British Cemetery,Corbie,Somme ,France.He is also named on the Dumbarton War Memorial Levengrove Park Dumbarton.

Hope this helps Anne.