Arthur's Story.
There are two lads called Whitley on St. Mary's “Roll of Honour”; A. (Arthur) Whitley, A Whitley is on the “Fallen” Memorial with the Royal Navy. R. (Ralph) Whitley. Arthur and Ralph are not brothers.
Arthur (Able Seaman)
C.W.G.C. - Remember Arthur at St. Mary’s Weaverham, Churchyard. Arthur was with the Royal Navy Service No 222393. He died Sunday 27th Oct. 1918, he was with H.M.S. Whitley. Arthur was the son of George and Dora Whitley of 8, Church View, Weaverham.
N.A. Royal Navy Ratings have a medal card for a Whitley, Arthur. Official Number 222393: Place of birth Weaverham and is occupation was labourer, Date of birth 19th Aug. 1886. Arthur enlisted on the 19th Aug. 1904 for 12 years. His age was recorded as 18, which suggests it was his birthday. Height 5ft. 6in. Hair looks like “dark brown”, eyes “grey” and complexion “ruddy”. Arthur already had tattoos as these where recorded as his distinguishing marks, an anchor on the forearm and a rising sun on the wrist. See attached Service Document.
(H.M.S. Whitley was ordered as H.M.S. Whitby on 9th December 1916 as part of the 10th Order of the 1916-1917 Naval Programme and was laid down by William Doxford & Sons at Sunderland in June 1917. When it was discovered that the name "Whitby" had mistakenly been written as "Whitley" when it was chosen for her, it was decided not to correct it, and she was launched as HMS Whitley, the first Royal Navy ship of the name, on 13th April 1918. She was completed on 11th October 1918, exactly one month before the conclusion of World War I, and commissioned on 14th October 1918. After acceptance trials and work-ups, H.M.S. Whitley was deployed in 1919 to the Baltic Sea, where she served in the British campaign against Bolshevik forces during the Russian Civil War She returned from the Baltic in 1920.)
Guardian Article 1st Nov. 1918, P5/C2; ABLE-SEAMAN ARTHUR WHITLEY.
The villagers of Weaverham grieved to hear learn last week of the death of Able-Seaman Arthur Whitley, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Whitley of Church-View. As recently as Wednesday last week his mother received a letter from him in which he stated that he was quite well, adding that he was glad to be back in the old place where he received his training for the Navy. On Sunday morning the parents were informed by telegram that on the previous day the deceased had undergone an operation, and that it had been successful, but shortly afterwards another message arrived conveying the sad news that he had passed away without regaining consciousness. The deceased enrolled in the Royal Navy in 1892 and for sometime was attached to the old ship Caledonian on South Queen’s Ferry, N.B. after which he spent five years at the China Station. He had seen considerable active service in connection with the war, as a member of a destroyer crew. He went all through the Dardanelles campaign being present at the landing of troops, and also the evacuation. In April of this year he was granted leave, and spent a month at home, after which he reported to Chatham, and was then drafted to another destroyer.
THE FUNERAL.
The remains were conveyed to Church-view on Wednesday morning, and the funeral took place in the afternoon. The Rev. Francis Long officiated at the church and graveside. The cortege was headed by the band from the Cheshire Depot at Chester, and was followed by the firing party of local volunteers, who were in charge of Sergeant Birtwistle, the remainder being Corporal Harvey, Lance Corporal Ashworth, Privates Renshaw, Newton, Whitehead, Butcher, Underwood, Molyneux, and Forster. Captain J. A. Cowley of the Motor Transport Section was in charge of the military.
The mourners included Mr. and Mrs G. Bell, father and mother; Mrs Branwood and Miss Whitley, sisters; Miss Gladys Nicholas fiancee; Miss Marjorie Nicholas, friend; Mrs Riley aunt; Miss Roberts cousin; Mr. J. Bell uncle; Mr. A. Robinson uncle; Mr. and Mrs T. Robinson uncle and aunt; Mr. and Mrs, Johnson, uncle and aunt; Messrs T. Whitley, H. Wilkinson, T. Wilkinson, F. Pitcher, T. Whitley, H. Winnington, friends. Floral tributes were forwarded by father and mother and “Maisie,” “Elsie and Leslie” “Gladys,” “Grandma,” “Uncle Tom,” “Uncle Alf. and Aunt Lil.” Mr. and Mrs Johnson, Mr. Alan Jones, Mr. and Mrs Burgess, Mr. and Mrs Pilcher and baby “Irene.”
Research Bob Heaton