PRIVATE 321866 CHARLES HARRISON WHITEHEAD, 17TH BATTALION NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS (NORTH EAST RAILWAY PIONEERS). DIED OF WOUNDS 20TH APRIL 1918 AGED 20 YEARS.


PRIVATE 321866 CHARLES HARRISON WHITEHEAD, 17TH BATTALION NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS (NORTH EAST RAILWAY PIONEERS). DIED OF WOUNDS 20TH APRIL 1918 AGED 20 YEARS.


Charles was born in Addingham in the spring of 1898 the only son of Alfred and Mary Whitehead. His father was a signalman on the railway and worked in Ilkley and before the war the family moved to Ben Rhydding living at 10 Sunset Terrace. Like his father Charles chose the railways for his career and worked as a goods clerk for the North Eastern Railway at the Marsh Lane Goods Depot in Leeds.


It was in July 1916 that Charles enlisted into the 17th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. This was a ‘Pals’ Battalion that was made up entirely of railwaymen who had worked for the North Eastern Railway. On the Western Front it became a pioneer unit used largely in construction works especially the building of light railways behind the front line which were used to transport both men and stores. As a pioneer battalion it was also trained to fight in the front line as infantry, a role which it would often undertake in times of crisis.

In April 1918 the 17th Northumberland Fusiliers were attached to the 1st Australian Division in the defence of the Ypres Salient from the Germans who had launched a major offensive designed to take this vitally important city. On the night of the 19th April the battalion sent out men to repair and improve the barbed wire defences in front of the British Lines at Nieppe. Charles went with a group of men from ‘A’ Company into no man’s land when an enemy shell landed amongst them causing several casualties. Badly wounded by a piece of shrapnel that hit him in the abdomen, Charles was dragged back and sent to a Casualty Clearing at Ebblinghem where sadly the following morning he died.

Today Private Charles Harrison Whitehead lies in the British Military Cemetery at Ebblinghem, where on is headstone are inscribed the words “TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE FORGOTTEN”. He is also remembered with pride on our war memorial in Ilkley.

In a letter to Mr and Mrs Whitehead dated 27th April 1918 Lieutenant J R Sadler wrote; “I deeply regret having to inform you that your son who was wounded in action on the 19th April died at the casualty clearing station on the 20th.  It will be a great sorrow to you but perhaps it may be some small comfort to know he died peacefully and quietly. We were all very surprised to hear of his death as he did not seem to be very badly hit when I spoke to him as he was being carried away on a stretcher just after he had been dressed. Please accept the sympathy of the officers and men of ‘A’ Company. I assure you that we are all very sorry to lose him as he was a great favourite with us all.”

Private Percy V Woods also wrote; “We were out at night and had only been working about half an hour when a salvo came amongst us Charlie was wounded in the bowels close to the left hip. He was very brave although in great pain. After he had been dressed by the stretcher bearers we carried him to the next ambulance station he was here dressed again but judging by the doctor’s face we feared the worst and he died at the CCS the following day. Will let you know where he is buried as soon as I have the information.”



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