Main CPGW Record
Surname: WHITEHALL
Forename(s): Richard
Place of Birth: Bradford, Yorkshire
Service No: 11278
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: East Lancashire Regiment
Battalion / Unit: 1st Battalion
Division: 4th Division
Age: ---
Date of Death: 1916-07-01
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 C.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: COWLING, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Richard Whitehall was the son of Josiah Wright and Ellen Whitehall, née Cox. Josiah was born at Foleshill, Warwickshire and Ellen at Dublin, Ireland. Josiah died in 1902. Ellen (as Mary Ellen) married Leonard Simons in 1908. Leonard was the father of Private William Robert Simons (267904) (q.v.) - see 'Craven Herald' (8 June 1917).
1891 Worsthorne, Lancashire Census: 10, Halsted Street - Richard Whitehall, aged 9 years, born Bradford, Yorkshire, son of Ellen Whitehall (married).
1911 Worsthorne, Lancashire Census: 11, Lennox Street - Richard Whitehall, aged 29 years, born Little Houghton [Horton], Bradford, Yorkshire. [Richard was boarding with Thomas and Annie Halstead.]
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Richard Whitehall, 11278, East Lancashire Regiment. Theatre of War first served in: 1 [France]. Date of entry therein: 29 July 1915. Correspondence: 2, Wighill Street, Holmefield, Sutton in Craven, Keighley, Yorks.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Richard Whitehall, 11278, 1st Batt East Lancs. Reg. Date and Place of Death: 1.7.16. France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Sister and Sole Legatee - Effie. £20 19s. 7d.
Data Source: Local War Memorial
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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: East Lancashire Regiment
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 4th Division
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28 July 1916
WHITEHALL – Killed in action, July 1st, Private Richard Whitehall, son of Mrs. Simons, Wighill Street, Sutton-in-Craven, aged 34 years.
28 July 1916
SUTTON – MEMBER OF A PATRIOTIC FAMILY KILLED
Mrs. Simons, of Wighill St., Holmfield, Sutton-in-Craven, received an intimation from the War Office on Sunday that her son, Pte. Richard Whitehall, had been killed in action on the 1st, of July. Another of her sons, Segt. Tom Whitehall, was wounded on the same day as his brother was killed, and is at present in the Military Hospital at Manchester, suffering from wounds in the arm. Pte. R. Whitehall was 34 years of age, and served through the Boer War in the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, without receiving so much as a scratch. He, along with his brother Tom, joined the East Lancashire Regiment when the War broke out. Mrs. Simons has two other sons serving with the Forces–James Whitehall, who also fought in the Boer War, has been in the Navy about 13 years, and is somewhere out on the deep; and Joseph Whitehall is with the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force.
Mr. Simons has three sons serving with the Forces and a son-in-law, this making eight members of the family serving their King and Country. Leonard Simons, his eldest son, joined the West Riding Regiment at the outbreak of hostilities; Willie Simons was a member of the West Riding Territorials at the outbreak of war, and is a member of the Regimental Band, as also is his brother-in-law Joseph Godfrey, and Charles Simon was called up for service just recently and is with the West Riding Regiment. Mr. Simons is himself an old soldier. He served for 17 years in the Army, being a colour-sergeant and instructor in the 2nd Leicester Regiment, and was 11 years in India. He is now employed by the State as a postman in the Cross Hills Post Office. He is a Sergeant Instructor to the Local Volunteer Training Corps, and is doing excellent service in training these men.
13 October 1916
SUTTON – THE ROLL OF HONOUR
Writing in the Parish Magazine on the war, the Vicar of Sutton (Rev. A.R. Light) gives a list of men from the Parish of Sutton, who have fallen in defence of their country as follows:–Arnold Healey, Walter Haggas, Lyall Taylor, Edmund Wilkinson, Norman Riley, Nelson W. Petty, Richard Whitehall, Albert Wm. Tune, Frederick W. Thompson, Henry Taylor, Joseph G. Bancroft, Cedric Fawcett Horsfall.
Mr. Light also says: “I have not in the Magazine mentioned by name those from this place who have given their lives for their country, not because I have forgotten such promising young men as Henry Taylor, and others whose names hang in the Church porch, and, indeed, as I write this, I fear lest it may even be dimly thought that one may seem to be valued more than another. All who are fighting are equally dear to God, and it is also true to say that both rich and poor are giving their best, offering on an altar watered with tears those whose lives are so much to them. All those boys who formed our first patrol of Scouts have almost gone to the front, and only last week we heard of Reginald Ellison being wounded, but we hope his life will yet be spared.
To every mother whose heart aches with anxiety or for actual loss, I offer most true sympathy, whether such are connected with us in the worship of Sutton Church or not, and one cannot help feeling in such times as these that religious differences are not, and cannot be again, as great and as dividing as they have seemed in the past, and that all are one family of God. May each one of these, who will never enter into our lives here again, rest in peace.”
08 June 1917
SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – MEMBER OF A PATRIOTIC FAMILY MISSING
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Simons, of Wighill Street, Holmfield, Sutton-in-Craven, have received information from two unofficial sources that their son, Pte. Willie Simons, of the West Riding Regiment, has been missing since an engagement on the 3rd of May. No official intimation has yet been received. Pte. Simons was one of a hand of patriotic brothers who responded nobly to their country’s call. The eldest member of the family, Pte. Leonard Simons (junior), who is in the West Riding Regiment, joined up at the outbreak of hostilities, and Pte. Willie Simons was in the Territorials at the commencement of the War, subsequently becoming a member of the Regimental Band. He went out to France with his Battalion about two months ago. Another son, Pte. Charles Simons, is also in the West Yorkshire Regiment, and has been home on a last leave during the week. He joined the Forces about July of last year. The youngest member of Mr. Simon’s family, Pte. Sam Simons, is at present on the British front in France, having been out with his regiment since Christmas, after two months’ training. In the early days of the war Pte. Sam Simons tried to join the Navy, but was rejected on account of a weak eye. Mr. Simons has also a son-in-law, Pte. Joseph Godfray, out ‘somewhere in France’ doing his bit with the West Ridings.
Mrs. Simons has also three sons and a son-in-law serving their King and Country, and has lost one son, Pte. Richard Whitehall, who was killed in action on the 1st of July last year. Another of her sons, Sergeant Tom Whitehall, was wounded on the same day as his brother was killed, and was sent to the Military Hospital at Manchester suffering from wounds in the arm. On recovering from his wounds, Sergt. Whitehall rejoined his unit, and is at the present time with the Forces at Salonika. James Whitehall, another son of Mrs. Simons, who fought in the Boer War, is with the Navy out on the mighty deep, and has been in the Navy for 13 years.
He took part in the Jutland battle, being on His Majesty’s first-class battle cruiser the Duke of Edinburgh, which came successfully out of the fight. He was recently home on leave. Joseph Whitehall is with the ----- Royal Irish Lancers and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force, and has not been home on leave for over two years. Mrs. Simons has a son-in-law, Pte. Albert Turbit, who joined a line regiment last week, and is now in training with his regiment.
Mr. Simons is himself an old soldier. He served for 17 years in the Army, being a colour-sergeant and instructor in the 2nd Leicester Regiment, and was 11 years with his regiment in India. He is now employed by the State as a postman in the Crosshills Post Office. He has rendered yeoman service to the local platoon of the West Riding Volunteers as drill instructor.
Mr. and Mrs. Simons will be very glad to hear from anyone concerning their son.
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10 November 1916
SUTTON – MEMORIAL SERVICE AND CHURCH PARADE
On Sunday morning a memorial service to those who had fallen during the war from Sutton parish was held in St. Thomas’s Church, conducted by Rev. A.R. Light (vicar). About 60 members of the local Volunteer Corps were present, having met in the Friendly Societies’ Hall yard, under the leadership of Commander Clough. Special lessons were read and special psalms were sung. ‘O rest in the Lord’ was given on the organ by Mr. A.E. Foulds. The Vicar asked the congregation to offer prayers for the souls of those who had fallen. The following names were read out:– Privates Arnold Healey, F.W. Thompson, Walter Haggas, J.G. Bancroft, Evelyn Fisher, Tom Summerskill, Norman Riley, Henry Taylor, Lyall Taylor, R. Whitehall, E. Wilkinson, A.W. Tune, Lieut. Nelson Petty, and Capt. C.F. Horsfall.
The text from which the very sympathetic discourse was preached was 2nd Samuel, 1., 26, David’s lamentation over the death of his friend Jonathan. At the close of the very impressive service Chopin’s ‘Funeral March’ was given on the organ. At the close of the evening service, which was again conducted by the Vicar, the ‘Dead March’ in ‘Saul’ was played, and the National Anthem sung.
03 August 1917
SUTTON
DEDICATION OF ROLL OF HONOUR – A special service, reverent and very beautiful throughout, the dedication of the roll of honour, was conducted in St. Thomas’s Church on Sunday evening last by the vicar, Rev. A. R. Light. The roll of honour is a triptych, the top panel, a beautiful inlet picture representing ‘The Great Sacrifice.’ It contains the names of the fallen heroes, viz., Arnold Healey, F.W. Thompson, Norman Riley, Lyall Taylor, J.G. Bancroft, E. Wilkinson, Nelson Petty, W. Haggas, G. Sanderson, R. Whitehall, W. Hargreaves, T. Summerskill, A.W. Tune, C.F. Horsfall, Lewis Binns,Albert Binns, E. Fisher, and W. Blake Spencer. The left panel represents ‘The White Comrade,’ and the right ‘The watch on many waters,’ in very artistic colours. The large centre space contains the names of all who were residents in the Sutton parish and are still serving their King and country. The sermon was from the text, “Through God we shall do valiantly.” The large congregation left the church to the strains of the French National Anthem.
15 February 1918
SUTTON
PRIVATE W. SIMONS DIES OF WOUNDS IN GERMANY
Mr. and Mrs. L. Simons have again been the recipients of bad news, regarding another member of their family. The news received is that their son, Pte. Willie R. Simons, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was a prisoner of war in Germany, had died in December last, after many reassuring letters from him that he was doing well. The last letter received stated that he had left the hospital and wan engaged on light work. The letter bearing the unexpected news was received on Thursday last from a French Protestant pastor who attended him, and read as follows – “The French pastor of the prisoners’ camp, Tugolstadt, should wish to send to the parents of our friend Simons the respectful and warmest words of human sympathy and Christian consolation, and to do it also in the name of the twelve English comrades who were present at the burial of their companion. We brought him yesterday afternoon, 13th December, to his last rest place, and stood on the grave around with very filled hearts, giving thanks to God for his sweet departure, thinking of his father and mother how heavy and hard it would have been to them to loose their beloved son, after hoping to recover him and without giving to him last marks of their love.” Prior to the war Pte. Simons was a member of the Cowling Brass Band, and was well known in the district. He was employed at Green Royd Mills, Sutton, as spinning overlooker. His oldest brother, Pte. Leonard Simons, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, is in France. Two other brothers – Charles and Sam – are also serving. Mr. Simons has also a son-in-law in France, Joe. Godfrey, while Mrs. Simons has three sons and one son-in-law serving with the forces. Pte. Richard Whitehall was killed in action in July, 1916. Ho served through the Boer War. Another of her sons – Thomas Whitehall – is at present in Alexandria Hospital suffering from wounds, received in the Palestine campaign.
31 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Lance-Corpl. Sam Simons Wounded
Mr. and Mrs. L. Simons, of Holme Bridge, Sutton, have received information from their youngest son, Lance-Corpl. Sam Simons, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, that he has been wounded in the arm and leg, and is now in hospital in Leeds. He joined up a year last January. He was home on leave last February. Mr. and Mrs. Simons have had eight sons serving, two of whom have made the supreme sacrifice. Willie died in Germany as prisoner of war.
[The two soldiers who are mentioned as having made the supreme sacrifice are Pte. William Robert Simons and his step-brother Pte. Richard Whitehall.]
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