John Walter Whitfield, known as ‘Jack’, was born in Oswestry in 1899 as the youngest child of Thomas, an auctioneer, and Annie Daisy who married on 14 August 1890 at Llanyblodwel. Two years later John’s older brother Thomas was born and another three years later his sister Eleanor. John was baptised was on 28 May 1899 at Holy Trinity Church. In 1901 the family lived at 16 Salop Road, Oswestry,  They would later move to ‘Woodcote’, 3 Victoria Road. Also living with then were two servants, one of whom was Annie Victoria Fernyhough – she had been a nurse maid and later was a domestic servant, she was the sister of Driver 653 John Fernyhough. John attended Oswestry Grammar School. It is believed that he then worked with his father as an auctioneer, with offices in Oswestry and Shrewsbury.

John joined up, probably as a conscript, in July 1917, originally enlisting in the South Wales Borderers but served in France with B Coy, 2/8 Bn Worcestershire Regiment. He died in hospital at Aire sur la Lys of double pneumonia and bronchitis brought on by influenza. He would have been one of the first in the influenza epidemic that swept the world in the aftermath of the war. It is reckoned that the disease killed 50,000,000 -100,000,000 worldwide, many previously healthy young adults. In this case it was no doubt brought on by the conditions in the trenches. John was only 19. At the time of his death he was hoping to transfer into the Royal Air Force and had recently passed the examination test as part of the selection process.

John is buried on the Aire Communal Cemetery. His headstone says ‘Jack, beloved son of Thomas and Daisy Whitfield Oswestry’. He is also commemorated on Oswestry School Memorial Window and at St Oswald’s Church Oswestry where there is also a commemorative plaque to him.

After his death his father became Mayor of Oswestry. 1925/26. His parents celebrated their golden wedding on 14 August 1940, his father died about three years later. He was the nephew of William Whitfield, the uncle by marriage of Second Lieutenant James R Whittaker, 6 Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. KIA 29 August 1916, Delville Wood Cemetery.

John is also distantly related by marriage to Harry Edward Whitfield – Oswestry’s VC recipient. Link to Victoria Cross on line

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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