Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery | Sp. Mem. C. 456. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.138 | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of Thomas Bowman Whytehead, of Acomb House, York.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 1/6 Gurkha Rifles |
| Action : Gallipoli |
The Gallipoli Campaign was fought on the Gallipoli peninsula 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916. in a failed attempt to defeat Turkey by seizing the Dardanelles and capturing Istanbul. Ill-conceived and planned, the initial effort by the Royal Navy failed to force passage through the Dardanelles by sea power alone. It was then realised that a land force was needed to support the project by suppressing the Turkish mobile artillery batteries. By the time all was ready the Turks were well aware and well prepared. Despite amazing heroics on the day of the landings only minor beachheads were achieved and over the succeeding 8 months little progress was made. Eventually the beachheads were evacuated in a series of successful ruses.
Despite Gallipoli rightly becoming a national source of pride to Australians and New Zealanders, far more British casualties were sustained, and these days the substantial French contribution is almost forgotten.
Portrait Image :
See also: Portrait Image: IWM (HU 127442).
"CAPTAIN HUGH RICHARD AUGUSTIN WHYTEHEAD, 1/6th GURKHA RIFLES, was the third son of the late Mr. T.B. Whytehead, of Acomb House, York, and of Mrs. Whytehead, of Hampstead, and was born on the 17th May, 1881. His eldest brother, William Watson Drough, fell in action in the South African War in 1900.
He was educated at St. Peter's School, York and was gazetted from the Imperial Yeomanry to the Northumberland Fusiliers in September, 1901. He served in the South African War from 1900 to 1902, and was awarded the Queen's medal with five clasps. In September, 1903, he was transferred to the Indian Army in which he became Lieutenant in the following December and Captain in March, 1910. Captain Whytehead fell in action at Gurkha Bluff, Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 22nd May, 1915, when a trench held by a British Regiment was surprised by the Turks. He was in support with his double Company, and recaptured the trench before he fell.
Captain Whytehead was a member of the Junior Naval and Military Club, and boating, shooting and golf were among his favourite recreations."
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Albert Victor No. 2328 E.C. | Yorkshire (North & East Ridings) |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
27th June 1899 | 27th December 1899 | 20th January 1900 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley