Name
John Frederick Whitby
1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/11/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
51445
Royal Fusiliers *1
8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 3 & 4
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Ashwell memorials
Pre War
John Frederick Whitby (sometimes known as Frederick) was born in 1882 at Sandon, Hertfordshire, the son of Sidney and Jane Whitby (nee Worboys), and was probably educated at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Slip End, Ashwell, Herts, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. They had moved to Islington by 1901 and were living at 35 Fonthill Road at which time 18 year old John was working as a carman.
He married Annie Collins on 12 September 1903 at Islington Registry Office, London and they had four children, John Frederick (1903) Arthur Thomas (1905) and Rose Annie (1912). Another son, Albert Edward was born in late 1913 but died shortly after.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at 42 Gladstone Avenue, Wood Green, London and John was working as a dustman for the Urban District Council.
His widow later lived at 1 Hurrells Row, Harston, Cambridge.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Wood Green and initially served with the Middlesex Regiment, reg. no. 32762, later being transferred to the 8th Battalion, City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
John was killed in action and death was presumed on or since 30 November 1917 . He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 10s and pay owing of £4 18s 0d. She also received a pension of £1 9s 7d a week for herself and her children.
*1 More correctly (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
