Thomas Whitham - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Home Page Thomas Whitham VC (May 11, 1888 – October 22, 1924) On July 31, 1917 at Pilkem, Belgium, during an attack an enemy machine-gun was seen to be enfilading the battalion on the right. Private Whitham on his own initiative immediately worked his way from shell-hole to shell-hole through our own barrage, reached the machine-gun and, although under very heavy fire captured it, together with an officer and two other ranks. This bold action was of great assistance to the battalion and undoubtedly saved many lives. After the war he became a bricklayer but times were hard and he had been rejected for other jobs by the Burnley council even though he had served his king and country in the Great War and had won the VC. He was forced to sell his VC and a gold watch that had been presented to him by the council in recognition of his bravery. Both ended up in a pawn shop but were rescued by the council and remain in the Townley Hall Art Gallery & Museums in Burnley. He died in poverty aged 36. It wasn't until 1952 that a memorial was built for him by the Coldstream Guards just outside Burnley.
These men should be treasured. Such a sad but all to often repeated tale. Also seems to speak of how deeply ingrained the engish class system was even after the momentous social upheavals resulting from the Great War. I say this because he was shunned even by his own local government who gave no value to the Queens highest award for valor that had been bestowed upon this man. Hell even Commisioned Officers have the good grace to salute a VC recipiant. Another nice Gem from the Vault Kai Petri
Saw his story on a document a couple of days ago. Really a sad way to treat a hero but I guess at the time it was not easy for anybody....
I know you've already seen it but his citation how it appears in Headlam's The Guards Division In The Great War. I can't find any other mention of him in the Guards Division history, I haven't got the Coldstream one only Grenadiers.
Map from Ponsonby's The Grenadier Guards in the Great War. Witham was in 1st Bn Coldstrem Guards. They are marked on map as 1 CG.
Reference Number: Q 80662 Photographer: - Title: THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES (PASSCHENDAELE) 31 JULY - 10 NOVEMBER 1917 Collection No.: 7112-16 Description: Victoria Cross Awards, 31 July 1917: Thomas Whitham, Private, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. Period:First World War
Attention to detail is everything people: Wyvern you have excelled, where the hell do you folks get this stuff, out here in the Antipodes there is a distinct drought of in depth info. But as reward for oustanding efforts i will see if i cant get at my fathers photo album. He was on board the HMS Eagle when she ferried the survivors of the Glousters debackle at the Imjin river back home. He has photo's of himself and some of the Glouster's standing on the deck. I know i've spelt this regiments name wrong please correct me.
Thanks for kind words P-Popsie. If you have some photos of the Glosters please, please copy them and let the Regimental Museum have them. Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum If you do could you start a thread on here too, I'd like to see them. What I never knew until a couple of years ago was that an draft of 100 men of 1st Wiltshires were sent from Hong Kong to join the Glosters just days before the battle. 40 of them were listed as Missing afterwards. I can't agree with you there mate, it's knowing where to look. Your Government has alot for historical documents on-line than over here.
I have the highest respect for him but also for whoever fought in the trenches, no matter their nationality as in away they were all brothers. . Having survived such a hell is a lot, add this heroic action to it and you get an exceptionnal man like Thomas
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum Will do. Again will do i havent seen the album since i was young and i know i raided it as a child but i know there are still a lot remaining. Unlucky buggers it just goes to show that its just a flick of a pen and a tick of a clock which so often determine destinies during war To be sure the Australian war Memorial is an exelent source in my City we have also the John Oxley Lib which has a large volume of info particularly in regards to the"Battle of Brisbane" in 1943. I just meant that I personally have only ever seen some of the stuff you guys seem to have in you personal collections in regimental museums during my military service. I take my hat off to your determination and dedication i have much to learn even on the subjects i have the most interest in.
