James Russell Whittaker was born at Ilkley in Yorkshire in 1890 the middle child with 2 sisters, Katherine and Jennie. They lived on Bolton Road, Ilkley. Their father was John William Abraham Longbottom Whittaker, he was the Agent for the Otley and District Conservative Party. Their mother was Catherine Jane Whittaker, she would die in 1895 at Ilkley. In 1901 they were living at 5 Westville Avenue, again, in Ilkley.  Sometime between 1901 and 1903, the family moved to Oswestry to live with James’ aunt and uncle at Park Issa on Salop Road. In 1903 his father died, James would continue to live with his uncle, his sisters would move to Liverpool to study as Domestic Science students. James attended Oswestry Grammar School and was a keen sportsman and represented Oswestry Hockey Club and Oswestry Victoria Tennis Club. He also joined the KSLI Territorials and was a good marksman. James worked for his uncle, William Whitfield, as an auctioneer’s clerk in his firm, Messrs. Whitfield and Rogers, Auctioneers. His uncle, was also great uncle to Private 44076 John W Whitfield who is also on the Gates.

James volunteered at the beginning of the war and was one of the first Oswestry Pals, joining 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry – he was in the first draft of men that left Oswestry on 9 September 1914. He went over to France with the battalion on 24 July 1915. He rose to the rank of Sergeant and then in March 1916 was commissioned as Temporary Second Lieutenant into 6 Bn King’s Yorkshire Own Light Infantry. He was KIA on 29 August 1916 at Delville Wood during the Somme Offensive. He was first buried in Longueval and later re-interred in Delville Wood Cemetery. He is also commemorated on war memorials at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry, Oswestry Grammar School and on Ilkley War Memorial

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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