Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: Second Lieutenant J. M. Whitworth, 9th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, who was killed in action in Gallipoli, 6 June 1915

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Som. L.I.) gilded; British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Memorial Plaque (James Melville Whitworth)

Three: Captain A. S. Whitworth, 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, who was wounded in action, battle of Loos

1914-15 Star (Lieut., Glouc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) mounted as worn; with a set of three miniature dress medals

Pair: Lieutenant H. C. Whitworth, 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, who was killed in action, German Spring Offensive, 26 March 1918

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut); Memorial Plaque (Herbert Clifford Whitworth) plaques with adhesive marks, medals virtually extremely fine (7) £800-900

The sons of Mr and Mrs Richard Whitworth, of Elmsleigh, Truro, Cornwall:

James Melville Whitworth was the 5th son of Mr & Mrs Richard Whitworth. He resigned the position he held in the London and Brazilian Bank, at Sao Paulo and returned to England in November 1914 to enlist. He was gazetted into the Somerset Light Infantry and entered Gallipoli with the 9th Battalion in 1915. There he was attached to a company of the 1st Battalion Essex Regiment who had lost all its officers. He was in the attack of 4 June 1915 and he was reported wounded. It was subsequently reported that he had been killed on 6 June 1915, aged 26 years. His name is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.

Arthur Stuart Whitworth was the 6th son of Mr & Mrs Richard Whitworth. He resigned his post as House Surgeon at the Royal Dental Hospital, London on 1 September 1914 and joined the 2nd battalion Artists’ Rifles the following day. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment and subsequently attained the rank of Captain. He went to France with his battalion in July 1915 and served at the battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, where he was wounded in the left shoulder and right ankle, and being left in the open for some hours, suffered somewhat from a British gas attack. As a result he was invalided to England. Recovering he returned to France in February 1916, rejoining the 10th Battalion. He actively served in the line between Loos and Calonne for 6 months until posted to the Somme on 6 July 1916. He was present at the taking of Contalmaison, 9 July and was engaged in several attacks on the Martinpuich-Flers Line. On 10 October 1916 he was invalided to England on account of severe blood poisoning and was not placed on the active service list until just before the armistice. In 1919 he returned to the Royal Dental Hospital.

Herbert Clifford Whitworth was the youngest son of Mr & Mrs Richard Whitworth. At the outbreak of war, he joined the Universities and Public Schools Corps. After training he received a commission in the 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. He entered France on 20 July 1916 and was severely wounded at Lesbouef in September 1916 and subsequently spent several months in a London hospital. On returning to duty, he took a course in machine gunnery at Hayling, becoming machine gun officer to his battalion. In December 1917 he returned to France and was in numerous actions. During the German Spring Offensive 1918 he commanded a company in the heavy fighting around St. Quentin. He was reported missing, subsequently killed in action on 26 March 1918. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The three medal groups (less plaques) in individual cases. With original portrait photographs of James and Herbert Whitworth. With copied research.