Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Owen Whittle, a domestic groom, born in the April quarter of 1867 in Oakham, Rutland and baptised on the 22nd May 1870 in St. Mary’s Church, Ashwell, Rutland (son of John Whittle, 1828-1905 and Elizabeth Sharman, 1832-1910) and his wife Laura Isabella Whittle (nee Wilson, married on the 15th April 1890 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin with St. John, Brington, Northamptonshire), born on the 11th April 1867 in Little Brington and baptised on the 19th May 1867 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin with St. John, Brington (daughter of Frederick Wilson, 1842 and Sarah Ann Thorneycroft, 1841). Vere Edward Roberts was born on the 10th June 1900 in Manton, Rutland and baptised on the 15th July 1900 in St. Mary’s Church, Manton, he had one sibling, a brother, Owen William Eric, born on the 18th July 1891 in Market Overton, Rutland and baptised on the 15th August 1891 in the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Market Overton, in March 1901 the family home was at Church Lane, Manton.
In April 1911 Vere was residing in the family home in Market Overton, together with his father, a groom, his mother and siblings, Owen, a domestic gardener and Amy Isabel, a dressmaker, born on the 22nd April 1893 in Market Overton.
His elder brother Owen William Eric fell in action on the 25th March, 1918.
Vere’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following source: - Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects.
Enlisted/Attested in a place not known into the Regular Army. 26/6/18.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number TR/6/40707.
Posted. To 53rd (Young Soldiers) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allocated to “A” Company. Date not known.
Transferred. To 52nd (Graduated) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Thoresby Camp, Worksop. Pte. 25/7/18.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 717820.
Involved in a Road Traffic Accident. 11/2/19.
Admitted. To Military Hospital, Cannock Chase. 11/2/19.
Died in Military Hospital, Cannock Chase. 14/2/19.
Interred. In Market Overton Cemetery, Rutland. 20/2/19.
In the event of his death, Vere nominated his father, Edward Owen as his sole legatee.
An extract from a short biography contained in the 1920 publication, Rutland & the Great War, compiled by G. Phillips records the following: - He had been apprenticed to Mr. F. Skillington, Draper of Market Overton, Rutland. His business taking him to the villages round, he was well known in the district, and a great favourite with everyone. He was a member of the Church Choir. Previous to enlisting on the 26th June, 1918, on reaching the age of 18, he was a lance-corporal in the 1st Batt. Rutland Volunteers, joining this before he was 17. He was training in Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase, when on the 11th February, he was knocked down by a motor taxi in camp while proceeding to officer’s quarters, the evening being very foggy. He was taken to the Military Hospital, where Major Machie performed a marvellous operation, but internal haemorrhage setting in for a second time, he succumbed three days after the accident. He is buried at Market Overton.
[recognitum XXVIII-XI-MMXXII]