Name
Leonard William Whittingham
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/05/1917
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2904
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
40th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. ALBANS (HATFIELD ROAD) CEMETERY
Mil. E. I.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the St Albans memorials (*1)
Biography
Leonard William Whittingham was born on 12th May, 1878 to parents Thomas Blackburn Whittingham and Margaret Louisa Whittingham (nee Reading). His birth was registered in June quarter, 1878 in the district of Hackney, London, England. (According to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour – Leonard was born at Clapton, England. According to his Attestation Papers Leonard stated he was born near Norwood, England).
The 1881 England Census recorded Leonard Whittingham as a 2 year old, living with his family at St. Margaret’s, Auckland Hill, Norwood, Lambeth, London, England. His mother was listed as Margaret Whittingham (Mariner’s wife, aged 33, born Launceston, Tasmania). Leonard was one of seven children listed on this Census – Alice (Scholar, aged 13, born Poplar), Clara (Scholar, aged 9, born Lower Clapton), Henry (Scholar, aged 7, born Lower Clapton), Minnie (aged 4, born Lower Clapton) then Leonard, Annie (aged 2, born Lower Clapton) & Lillian (aged 1, born Lower Clapton). Also listed were 2 servants – Agness Tyrell (Governess, aged 28) & Annie Snelling (aged 21).
Thomas Blackburn Whittingham, father of Leonard William Whittingham, died on 9th March, 1888.
DEATH NOTICE – London Evening Standard – 19 March, 1888:
WHITTINHGAM – March 9, in Chesil West Bay, Thomas Blackburn Whittingham, by the foundering of the Lanoma, aged 54. Australian papers, please copy.
The 1891 England Census recorded Leonard W. Whittingham as a 12 year old, living with his family at St. Margaret’s, Auckland Hill, Norwood, Lambeth, London, England. His mother was listed as Margaret Whittingham (Widow, aged 45, Living on her own means). Leonard was one of nine children listed on this Census - Alice M. (aged 23), Ethel L, (aged 21), Clara (aged 19), Henry (aged 17), Annie E. (aged 13), then Leonard, Lillian M. (aged 10, born Norwood, London) Leslie E. (aged 9, born Norwood, London) & Irene M. (aged 4, born Norwood, London).
Leonard William Whittingham was baptised on 19th January, 1893 at St. Luke’s Church, West Norwood, Lambeth, England, along with his siblings – Irene Margaret Whittingham (b. 1887) Edwin Leslie Whittingham (b. 1882) & Annie Eleanor Whittingham (b. 1877). The family lived at St. Margaret’s, Auckland Hill, Lambeth & their father – Thomas Blackburn Whittingham was listed as a Master Mariner (deceased).
Leonard William Whittingham attended a Private School at Westhorwood, England.
According to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour – Leonard Whittingham came to Australia when he was 19 years old.
The 1914 Australian Electoral Roll for the division of Darwin, subdivision of Circular Head, Tasmania recorded Leonard William Whittingham of Detention River.
Leonard William Whittingham was a 39 year old, single, Farmer, from Wynyard, Tasmania when he enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania on 17th October, 1916 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). His service number was 2904 & his religion was Church of England. His next of kin was listed as his mother – Mrs Margaret Whittingham, Kingsbury, Overbury Road, Parkston, Dorset, England. Leonard Whittingham had defective teeth requiring dental aid & his eyesight was slightly defective.
Private Leonard William Whittingham was posted to 6th Reinforcements of 40th Battalion for recruit training.
Private Leonard William Whittingham embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Orsova (A67) on 6th December, 1916 with the 40th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 17th February, 1917.
40th Battalion
The 3rd Division was raised in Australia early in 1916. The 40th Battalion was Tasmania's contribution to the strength of the division and it joined the Victorian-raised 37th, 38th and 39th Battalions to form the 10th Brigade....
(Extract of Battalion information from the Australian War Memorial)
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
Private Leonard William Whittingham was marched in to Camp Details at Sutton Mandeville, Wiltshire from 14th Training Battalion on 7th March, 1917.
Private Leonard William Whittingham was admitted to Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire on 13th March, 1917 – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Mental Stupor”. He was transferred to Tidworth Military Hospital, Wiltshire on 17th March, 1917 from Fovant Military Hospital. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “General Paralysis”.
Private Leonard William Whittingham was transferred & admitted to Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans, England on 5th April, 1917 with Mental issues – seriously ill. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “General Paralysis of the Insane”. “On admission he was in an advanced stage of G.P.I. He became more demented & bed¬ridden. Physical health failed steadily.”
Details for the address of the next of kin of Private Leonard William Whittingham were changed on the records on 26th April, 1917 from Mrs Margaret Whittingham, mother, previously of Kingsbury Rd, Parkston, Dorset, England to “Kingsbury”, Overbury Road, Parkston, Dorset, England.
Private Leonard William Whittingham died at 7.45 am on 14th May, 1917 at County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans, England from General Paralysis of Insane.
A death for Leonard W. Whittingham, aged 39, was registered in the June quarter, 1917 in the district of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England.
Private Leonard William Whittingham was buried on 18th May, 1917 in Hatfield Road Cemetery, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England – Plot number Mil. E. 1. and now has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
From the burial report of Private Leonard William Whittingham - Coffin was Elm. Polished. The deceased soldier was buried with Military Honours. Gun Carriage and Firing Party (National Volunteers) were in attendance. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack. Prior to interment a service was held in the chapel of St. Albans Cemetery. Chaplain Archdeacon Richard of the A.I.F. was present. The deceased’s brother and two sisters were also present and expressed their high appreciation of the manner in which the funeral was conducted; they request that the A.I.F. should deal with the matter of erecting a memorial. The St. Albans Borough Council have a Board of Honour erected and the names of each soldier buried is inscribed thereon.
The Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Private Leonard William Whittingham contains a request from the Red Cross on behalf of the relatives to obtain any details concerning his last hours and burial. A reply was received from The County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans which reads: “Pte Whittingham, L. W. 40th Battn. A.I.F. was admitted to this Hospital on 5/4/17. He was then suffering from a grave form of nervous trouble; he became steadily more enfeebled and died on 14/5.17. He was given a Military Funeral at St. Albans Cemetery, on 18/5/17, and his brother and sister attended this.”
Private Leonard William Whittingham was entitled to British War Medal only as he had not entered a Theatre of War. A Memorial Scroll & Memorial Plaque were also sent to Private Whittingham’s mother – Mrs M. Whittingham, as the closest next-of-kin. (Scroll & Plaque issued in England in August, 1922).
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists Private Leonard William Whittingham – service number 2904, aged 39, of 40th Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was the son of Thomas Blackburn Whittingham and Margaret Louisa Whittingham, of “Kingsley,” Overbury Rd., Parkstone, Dorset, England.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Jonty Wild, Cathy Sedgwick, Beth Page - https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/
