Pte 51609 George Whitehead

• Age: 20
• From: Bromborough, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 20th October 1916
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem, Rouen
  Panel Ref: B.12.35

George was born in 1896 in Bromborough and was the son of Isaac George Whitehead and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Price), who married in 1887 in Liverpool.

The 1901 Census shows George is aged 5 b.Bromborough, living at "Little Eaton", Spital Rd, Bromborough. His father Isaac G. is a 45 year old auctioneer born in Liverpool, whilst his mother, Mary E. is 36 and also born in Liverpool, his sisters all born in Bromborough are shown as; Mary 13, Annie 11, Helen 9, Sara M. 6 and servant Sarah Kinsell 25    

The 1911 Census shows the familyare still living at Little Eaton Bromborough. His father, Isaac George is aged 55, and still employed as an auctioneer Mary Elizabeth is aged 46, they advise that they have been married for 23 years and they have had five children all born in Bromborough.  Mary aged 23, born 1888 is a typist in an office, Annie is aged 21, born 1890 and is a teacher of domestic science, Helen aged 19, born 1892 and is a student of Physical Culture, Sara Margaret aged 16, born 1895 and George aged 15, born 1896 are at school.

He enlisted as Rifleman 4612 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked aboard the SS Princess Victoria from Folkestone-Boulogne on 15th July 1916, reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 16th July. He proceeded to 11th Entrenching Battalion on 02nd August and proceeded to the 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 05th August and was posted from 05th September to the 17th Battalion as Private No 51609.

George died of wounds on 20th October, 1916, aged 20, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

A report in the Southport Visitor of 28th October 1916 details George's injuries:

"The only son of Major George Whitehead, the principal partner in the well known firm of Messrs Thomas Whitehead & Sons, Auctioneers. He was 20 years of age and was severely wounded on the 12th inst by a shell which shattered his right leg which was amputated on 18th inst but he died of heart failure on 20/10/1916. He was educated at Liverpool Institute, and for some years was a member of its' cadet corps."

George now rests at St Sever Cemetery at Rouen where his headstone inscription reads:

"ONLY SON OF GEORGE & MARY WHITEHEAD BROMBOROUGH CHESHIRE".

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 26th October 1916

WHITEHEAD - October 20, from wounds, aged 20 years, George Whitehead, K.L.R., only son of Major and Mrs George Whitehead, Little Eaton, Bromborough.

Also in the Liverpool Post on 27th October 1916

Private George Whitehead, King's (Liverpool Regiment), whose death from wounds is announced, was the only son of Major George Whitehead V.D.[Volunteer Officer Decoration], the principal partner in the well-known firm of Messrs. Thomas Whitehead and Sons, Auctioneers & C., of this city. Private Whitehead, who was 20 years of age, was seriously wounded in the trenches in France on the 12th inst., by a shell which shattered his right leg. The limb was amputated on the 18th, but on the 20th he died of heart failure. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute, and for some years was a member of its Cadet Corps. Major Whitehead is a present one of the commandants at the Aliens' Camp, Knockaloe, Isle of Man.

Soldier Effects to mother Mary E., no Pension record found

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Southport Civic Memorial

Prices Candle Works

St Barnarbas’ C. of E. Church, Bromborough

Bromborough Pool Village, Factory and Duke Dock's Wharf, Liverpool.

His father served in the Isle of Man with the RDC at the Aliens' Internment Camp, Knockaloe:- 

Isle of Man Examiner 12th Feb 1916

KNOCKALOE CAMP ESCAPES

TRIAL OF PRISONERS.

MILITARY COURT AT PEEL.

" A military court was held at Peel Court House, on Tuesday, for the trial of two prisoners of war—Eric Gustav Petrowaki , who was charged with escaping from Knockaloe Camp, and Paul Rente, who was charged with attempting to escape from the Camp on January 27th. Lieut.-Col. Anderton , Supervising Officer, presided, the other members of the Court being Capt. and Hon. Major I.G.Whitehead, 3/5th King's Liverpool Regiment, and Capt. J. S. Mylchreest, Isle of Man Volunteers.

[The Army and Navy Gazette 22nd Nov 1884 picks up his father's career - 19th Lancashire (Liverpool Press Guard) Isaac George Whitehead, Gent, to be Lieut.]

His mother died, aged 63, in the June quarter of 1928.

We currently have no further information on George Whitehead, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.