L/Cpl 49029 Robert Whittam

• Age: 28
• From: Pendleton, Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 10th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Esquelbecq Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.C.29

Robert Whittam was born in about September 1890, in Pendleton, Manchester, the son of Sager (also appears as Sagar on records) Whittam and his wife Sarah (nee Connell). His parents, both born in the Manchester area, married in 1889 and had seven children of whom four died in infancy.  Robert was their first born; he had younger siblings Sarah Ellen, born in  1892, Ruth 1894 and Mary Elizabeth 1902 (both died in infancy), Lotty 1903, and twins John and Sager, born in 1905.  

Robert is found on the 1891 census at seven months old, with his parents at 1 Heath Street, Pendleton. His father is a foundry labourer and his mother a cotton operative. 

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 1 Beard Street, Pendleton.  His father, 34, is a labourer, his mother 33, Robert 11 and Sarah 9. 

His father died in Manchester in 1905, at the age of 37, and sadly twin sons John and Sager died shortly afterwards, leaving Robert as the only surviving son. 

In 1911 his widowed mother, 42, is head of household at 9 Hazel Street, Salford.  Robert is 21, an iron moulder for an engineering firm, Sarah, 19, is a cotton doubler, and Lotty, 8 is at school.  Also living with them is his uncle Thomas Connell, 47, and a boarder, Leonard Bostock.

When he was 23, Robert married Ellen Barton, on 06th June 1914 in St. Thomas, Pendleton, his occupation iron moulder, and his address 42 Lytham Street.  Their daughter Nellie was born on 9th January 1915. A son Robert was born in late 1916 but sadly died in infancy. A Rhoda Whittam was born to mother Barton in 1917 in the Blackburn district, but is not listed on the pension card, and no death record has been found.

Robert enlisted in Salford on 8th September 1914 as Private 5672 King's Royal Rifles, giving his age as 24, and his occupation as iron moulder.  He was discharged after 45 days on 22nd October, as not likely to become an efficient soldier. 

Days later, on 28th October 1914, he enlisted in Manchester as Private 4590, 3rd Bn. Loyal North Lancs Regiment, giving his age as 24 years and one month, occupation iron moulder.  He is described as being 5' 6" tall, weighing 120 lbs, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes, and auburn hair.  He gives his religion as C of E, and states he has lived out of his father's house for at least three years.  He states previous military service of five years with the 8th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, a Territorial unit, time expired.  He passed a medical exam as fit for service.  However, he was again discharged, 48 days later, on 14th December 1914, as not likely to become an efficient soldier, his records showing "totally unfit" due to cardiac dilatation and tachycardia (a weak and enlarged heart muscle, plus a fast heart rate). His address is shown as 8 Harris Street, Pendleton.  

Robert enlisted for the third time and based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he re-enlisted in about May 1915.

He was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 49029 when he died of wounds on the 10^th May 1918 aged 28 during the German Spring Offensive. It should be noted that SDGW gives previous service as 27540 Lancashire Fusiliers, but no records have been found with this number. 

Robert now rests at Esquelbecq Cemetery, France.  

The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918, although one French grave was added in 1919 and one British soldier from 1916 was added later from an isolated site.

The cemetery was used again during the Second World War, mainly for the burial of those killed during the German advance of May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk.

Esquelbecq Military Cemetery contains 578 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 47 from the Second World War. There are also 11 French and German burials.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

His CWGC headstone shows his age as 25, but based on all records, civil and military, Robert would have been 28 years old (perhaps the error occurred in transcription). 

His widow Ellen received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of 15 pounds and was awarded a pension of 1-4s-11d a week from November 1918.  At that time she was living at 130 Peasley Cross Lane, St. Helens, and later moved to 117 Grafton Street, St. Helens.  She remarried in 1920 to Frank Haining and gave birth to a son in 1921.  The CWGC communicated with Mrs. Haining, 581 Prescot Road, Old Swan, concerning Robert's headstone. 

His mother suffered further loss when daughter Lotty died in 1924, at the age of 20.  His only surviving sibling, Sarah, married and had a son in 1924 she named Robert. 

Robert is commemorated in St. Thomas' Church, Pendleton, Memorial and Roll of Honour Book. 

If you have any further information on Robert Whittam. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.