Arthur's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Arthur Whittaker was born on 11 May and baptised on 19 June 1887 at St George's Church, Sutton, south Macclesfield, the son of Jane (née Thorley) and William Thomas Whittaker, a silk weaver of 64 Peel Street, Sutton.
In 1901, thirteen-year-old Arthur was living at 17 Beswick Street, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings Rebecca (23) and William (17). By 1911 Arthur was a boarder at 24 Prestbury Road, Macclesfield and working as a gardener.
Arthur married Emily Wright at Christ Church, Macclesfield on 6 May 1913.
MILITARY SERVICE
Private Whittaker was reported missing in the Macclesfield Times on 3 May 1918:
Mrs Whittaker, 7 Hope St, Macclesfield, is notified that her husband, Pte Arthur Whittaker, Ches Regt was posted missing on March 25th. He is 32 years of age and was employed by Mr Dorey, florist, Park Lane. Pte Whittaker joined the Army two years ago and was drafted out to France in January last. He was educated at Mill Street Wesleyan School and attended St Paul's Church.
Private Whittaker was later assumed to have been killed in action on 25 March 1918.
COMMEMORATION
Private Arthur Whittaker is commemorated on Panel Ref. Bay 5 and 6 of the Arras Memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Arthur Whittaker, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
Locally, Private Arthur Whittaker is commemorated on the Macclesfield Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers (Find My Past): St George's Church, Macclesfield
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
Family History Society of Cheshire (FHSC): Macclesfield Christ Church CD – Marriage index
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 3 May 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.