Cpl 23858 George Whitney

• Age: 21
• From: Runcorn, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 6th May 1918
• Commemorated at: La Clytte Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: V.F.13

George Whitney was born 15th May 1896 in Runcorn and was baptised 16th June 1896 at All Saints Church, Runcorn. He was the son of Thomas Whitney and his wife Kate  (nee Bignall), of 29 Heath Rd, Runcorn, Cheshire.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 29, Heath Road, Runcorn, Cheshire. His father, Thomas, is aged 29, born in Runcorn in 1872 is a general labourer, his mother  Kate is aged 27 with no occupation listed and was also born in Runcorn as were their three children. Their children are George aged 4, born 1896, Gertrude aged 3, born 1898 and Thomas aged 1, born 1900. 

George was educated at Balfour Road School, Runcorn.

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 29 Heath Road, Runcorn, Cheshire. George's father Thomas is aged 39, and is a furnace-man in an aluminium factory, his mother Kate is aged 37 with no occupation listed. They have been married for sixteen years and have had seven children of which one had died. They have five children in the household; George now aged 14, and employed as a general labourer in an aluminium factory, Gertrude aged 13, Thomas aged 11, Annie aged 8, and Emma aged 2.    

George enlisted in Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 23858. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He arrived in France on 07th November 1915.

Following the disbandment of the 20th Battalion in February 1918 he was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 23858 when he was killed in action on the 06^th May 1918 aged 21 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary records that enemy artillery was active throughout the day of 06th May.  

George now lies in La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“GREATER LOVE HAS NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”

The first burial in the cemetery took place on the 01st November 1914, and between that date and April 1918, Plots I, II and III and part of Plot IV were filled. The hamlet of La Clytte was used as Brigade Headquarters, and the burials were carried out by Infantry, Artillery and Engineer units (out of 600, 250 are those of Artillery personnel and 66 are those of Engineers).

After the Armistice Plot IV was completed, and Plots V and VI formed by the concentration of isolated graves and small graveyards from the area round Reninghelst, Dickebusch, Locre and Kemmel.

There are now 1,082 casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 238 of the burials are unidentified and one of the graves, brought in from LEICESTER CAMP CEMETERY (a group of 17 graves on the road to Reninghelst), is marked with the names of two men between whom the identification rests. Other special memorials commemorate casualties known to have been buried in the cemetery, but whose graves could not be located.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He earned his three medals.

George is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

Runcorn War Memorial

Cheshire Roll of Honour. 

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