Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Whittaker, a farm labourer, born 1845 in Diseworth, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Whittaker (nee Buck, married in the 3rd quarter of 1866 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 1849 in Ashby de la Zouch. Bernard was born in the 1st quarter of 1883 in Whitwick, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Mary Ann, born in the 1st quarter of 1872 in Coalville, Leicestershire, Thomas William, a farm labourer, born in the 1st quarter of 1874 in Whitwick, George, a farm labourer, born in the 2nd quarter of 1876 in Coalville, Jane, born in the 2nd quarter of 1878, Joseph, born in the 4th quarter of 1880 and Agnes, born in the 3rd quarter of 1885, the latter three siblings were all born in Whitwick, in April 1891 the family home was at The Forest, Whitwick. In March 1901 Bernard was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Reformatory Cottage, Oaks Road, Whitwick, together with his father, a domestic gardener, his mother and siblings, George, a coal miner, Joseph, a coal miner and Agnes, also residing in the family home was Bernard’s nephew, Percy Whittaker, born in the 1st quarter of 1895 in Whitwick, his paternal grandfather, William Whittaker, born 1819 in Diseworth and his paternal aunt, Mary Whittaker, born 1839 in Repton, Derbyshire. In April 1911 Bernard was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at The Colony, Coalville, together with his father, a jobbing gardener, his mother and siblings, Joseph, a farm labourer, his married sister Jane Breeze and her daughter Mary Agnes Breeze, a schoolgirl, born 1899 in Whitwick, and his nephew Percy Whittaker, a stone quarry driller. Bernard also had two older siblings, Thomas William who was born in the 2nd quarter of 1868 and who died in the 1st quarter of 1870 in Whitwick, aged 1 and Joseph who was born in the 3rd quarter of 1870 and who died in the 4th quarter of 1871 in Whitwick, aged 1.
Bernard enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 4th September 1914 in Coalville, and was allotted the service number 14993. He gave his place of birth as Whitwick, Coalville, Leicestershire and age as 31 years 34 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as farm labourer.
His medical examination took place in Coalville on the 4th September 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 31 years 34 days, that he was 5 feet 9 inches in height, weighed 160 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had blue eyes and his hair colour was brown. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father William Whittaker, mother Eliza Whittaker, Leicester Road, Whitwick, brother William Whittaker, Whitwick and brother George Whittaker, Desford.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Leicester. 4/9/14.
Joined. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 4/9/14.
Reported absent. 24/1/15.
Forfeits -?- days pay by R.W. for “Absence.” 11/9/14 – 26/1/15.
Posted. 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 5/2/15.
Posted 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 3/6/15.
Embarked. Southampton. 3/6/15.
Joined. 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 17/6/15.
Missing. In the Field. 25/9/15.
Regarded for official purposes as having died. In the Field. 25/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 4/9/14 – 2/6/15. 272 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 3/6/15 – 25/9/15. 115 days.
Total Service. 1 year 22 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Bernard’s surviving service record amounts to a total of twelve pages, of which only five pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
Bernard’s widowed mother Eliza, was awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings to commence on the 4th July 1916.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 - At 5.30am the Battalion was in positions of readiness in accordance with orders in four lines opposite their objective with bombing parties, sandbag parties and carrying parties all arranged and in position. At 6.00am the first line got over the parapet quickly followed by the second, the left had to right form to get in line with the right as the trench ran back from a salient near the centre. As the first two lines went out the third and fourth filed into the vacant positions in the firing line. The gas affected a number of our men, and the smoke caused a dense fog and direction was difficult. Casualties began at once and the third line was ordered out to fill up gaps. Owing to the thick smoke it seemed likely that gaps would occur on the flanks and at 6.07am the fourth line was sent out with special instructions to maintain touch with the units on either flank. At about 6.10am the left were over the German parapet and our flag was seen flying on their lines. The left went forward with such dash that they outstripped the 2/8th GURKHAS and came in for a lot of fire from rifles and maxim guns from our right. This caused a good many casualties including all the officers and most of the NCO’s of “A” Company which was the extreme left. Undeterred the men went on, got over the uncut wire and reached the road with parties of the 2/8th GURKHAS and gained their objective. In the meantime our right had not fared so well. They went forward in good line under a heavy fire till held up by the German wire. A number of our men here were collected in the ditch in front of the German wire waiting for developments. Officer casualties. Killed Captain F. H. ROMILLY D.S.O., Captain E. C. DEANE, R.A.M.C. Died of wounds 2nd Lieutenant M. W. BROWNE. Wounded Lieutenant Colonel H. GORDON D.S.O., Captain W. C. WILSON, Lieutenant H. H. PHILLIPS, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. TANNER, 2nd Lieutenant H. H. HEMPHILL, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. ELLINGHAM, 2nd Lieutenant C. C. BAILEY, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. GROSSMITH. Slightly wounded Major F. LEWIS, Captain D. L. WEIR. Gassed 2nd Lieutenant W. WILSON. Missing and believed killed Lieutenant W. T. PICKIN, 2nd Lieutenant R. E. S. LODGE. Missing known to have been wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. WOODBOURN. Missing and no trace 2nd Lieutenant W. J. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant T. R. LONGCROFT. Rank and file casualties. Killed 72. Wounded 217. Gassed 42. Missing 96. Wounded slightly but did not quit Battalion 3. What was left of the Battalion were relieved from the front line by the 2/39th GARWHAL RIFLES at 6.30pm and moved into support and local reserve just in rear. Before the operations began the Battalion worked for a week in strengthening the front line and preparing the defences behind. Four very strong lines were constructed capable of resisting the enemy’s bombardment.
On Friday, October 15th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – LOCAL CASUALTIES – Private BERNARD WHITTAKER, 10th Platoon, C Company, 2nd Leicester’s, is reported by a comrade to have been killed in action during the recent great advance, the date being given as the 25th or 26th September. Whittaker’s father lives in Leicester-road, Whitwick. The deceased was the youngest of four sons, and enlisted shortly before Christmas last. He was about 30 years of age, and unmarried.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 22nd, 1915

Whitwick Soldier Reported Killed

Pte. Bernard Whittaker, who formerly belonged to the C. Company of the 2nd Leicestershires, and was a sapper attached to the Royal Engineers, is reported to have been killed in action on the 25th or 26th September.
The news was conveyed in a letter from a comrade of the deceased soldier to Whittaker’s father and mother who reside near the Forest Rock Granite Quarry in Leicester Road, Whitwick. Accompanying the letter were several of the deceased’s personal belongings which the writer says Whittaker gave him to keep for him before going into the great battle.

The deceased was 33 years of age and unmarried. He enlisted just before Christmas and up to then had been working as a miner at the South Leicestershire Colliery. His father, Mr William Whittaker, who has been in poor health for the last four years, was formerly kitchen gardener at the Mount St. Bernard’s Monastery. The parents of the deceased, up to Tuesday, had received no official confirmation of the death, and Mrs Whittaker has forwarded the particulars, with an enquiry to the War Office.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 11th, 1916

WHITWICK MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service for Pte. Whittaker, of the 2nd Leicesters, was held in the Holy Cross Church on Sunday evening, conducted by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly. There was a large congregation which included the Whitwick and Thringstone boy scouts, and members of the Citizen Corps, under Commander G. F. Burton, also representatives of the Coalville Corps. The National Anthem was sung and the organist played the Dead March, while the “Last Post” was also sounded by one of the buglers of the boy scouts, the service being an impressive character.

Coalville Times article - Friday September 28th, 1917

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of Sapper Bernard Whittaker, of the Leicestershire Regiment, fourth son of the late Mr W. Whittaker and Mrs Whittaker of 68, Albert Street, Coalville, who was killed in France, September 25th, 1915, aged 31 years.

“God called him Home, it was His will,
But in our hearts he dwelleth still;
His memory is as dear today
As in the hour he passed away.

Days of sadness still come o’er us;
Tears in silence often flow;
Thinking of the day he left us,
Just two years ago.”

R.I.P. from his loving Mother, Brothers and Sisters.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 15th, 1918

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT WHITWICK

TABLET IN HOLY CROSS CHURCH

The Bishop of Nottingham, the Rev. Father Dunn, unveiled a memorial tablet in the Whitwick Holy Cross Church, on Sunday containing the names of 12 men, formerly connected with the church, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the war. The names and dates each recorded on small square bronze plates, and fixed on the tablet in three columns, are as follows:

Private James Cairns, Connaught Rangers, killed in action, August 21st, 1915.
Private A. C. Johnstone, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, September 1st, 1915.
Sapper B. Whittaker, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 25th, 1915.
Private Edward Jarvis, Grenadier Guards, killed in action, October 17th, 1915.
Private Ed Hunt, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, January 7th, 1916.
Private C. Stanford, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, July 14th, 1916.
Private Jos. Sheffield, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 26th, 1916.
Lance-Corporal B. Morley, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, April 23rd, 1917.
Private Harold Edwin Ketcher, 12th Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action, June 16th, 1917
Corporal A. Concannon, M.M. Sherwood Foresters, killed in action, July 31st, 1917.
Private William Beasley, 1st Leicesters, killed in action, September 11th, 1917.
Rifleman L. Haywood, Scottish Rifles, torpedoed at sea, December 30th, 1917.

The tablet, which is surmounted by a crucifix, reads, “In memory of our devoted heroes who fell in the great war. Your prayers are requested for the repose of the souls of (names)”.

At the foot appear the words, “May they rest in peace.” Space is left for the addition of any further names if this becomes necessary. There was a large congregation, including the relatives of the deceased soldiers, and after the unveiling, a memorial service was held. This was conducted by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly, assisted by Father Degan of Coalville, and the Bishop preached the sermon.

Coalville Times article - Friday September 27th, 1918

IN MEMORIAM

In ever loving memory of Sapper Bernard Whittaker, killed in France, September 25th, 1915. Aged 31 years.

“Eternal rest give to him, O Lord”

“Rest in Peace”

From his loving Mother, Brothers and Sisters

Coalville Times article - Friday September 26th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of Sapper Bernard Whittaker, 14993, 2nd Leicester Regiment, who made the supreme sacrifice, September 25th, 1915.
“There’s a grave far away in France,
Where our darling Bernard sleeps.
There’s a cottage home in England,
Where his loved ones often weep.
And the things that are making life worth while,
Are the sweet memories that cling round his name.”

From his loving Mother, Sisters and Brothers (Coalville).

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 09/09/2017