David Whittingham

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 07/10/2017 - 14:39

First Name:

David

Last Name:

Whittingham

Mother's Name:

Eleanor Whittingham nee Florance

Father's Name:

Henry Whittingham

Date Enlisted:

Monday, December 6, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Acting Corporal

Unit:

13th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, February 4, 1917

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

David (Dave) Whittingham (Service No 6121) was born in Sydney around 1874.

At enlistment he was single, 42 years of age and worked as a bank clerk with the Union Bank in Sydney. Dave nominated his sister, Edith Piper Whittingham, as his next of kin. The Whittingham family were long time residents of Kiama, N.S.W. where Dave had attended school.

He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire with 13th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement on 22nd August 1916 and arrived in England on 13th October 1916. Dave joined 13th Battalion in France on 19th December 1916 and saw service in France until he was killed in action on 4th February 1917.

There are conflicting reports about his fate in Dave's Red Cross File. He is listed as being in B or D Company, with the rank of both Sergeant and Corporal. One report states he was killed by a shell fragment to the head, at about 2pm, in the front line trench. Another report states he was killed in no-mans-land while trying to rescue a wounded German soldier. All reports agree he was killed in the same area.

Dave is buried in Bancourt British Cemetery, Plot VI, Row E, Grave 10. There is also mention of his sister, Caroline (Carrie) Bowden Whittingham, a nurse in France, coming to his grave.

Dave is commenorated on the Kiama Memorial Arch and Honour Rolls along with his sister Carrie.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WHITTINGHAM DAVID