Bert Whiteley was born in Oswestry in 1892 and was the youngest of three brothers. Their father, John, had married their mother, Sarah Jones, in 1888 at Oswestry and they would live at 8 Gate Street. They moved frequently – possibly because of John’s work. In 1890, their first son, Joseph (also a war casualty) was born at Huddersfield – this was John’s father’s home town. Their second son, John, was born in 1891 at Widnes.  By 1901 they had moved again and the family were living at 26 Marple Street, Openshaw, Manchester. Their father was working in an iron works, the three boys were at school. In 1911 they moved again to 14 Burton Street, Gorton, Manchester. By now their father was working as a motor car mechanic, Joseph and Bert were working in a locomotive workshop as a boiler riveter and an iron turner respectively, brother John worked for a pawnbroker.

Bert enlisted in 1/7 Bn Manchester Regiment Territorials – it is probable that he had been a territorial soldier before the war. His battalion went out to Egypt in September 1914 and then over to the Dardanelles and Gallipoli early in May 1915 disembarking at ‘V’ beach. He was KIA on 7 August 1915 during the Third Battle of Krithia – also called the Battle of Krithia Vineyard. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial and has no known grave. His name is also on the Manchester Regiment Memorial in Whitworth Park, Manchester and is on the memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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