Arthur Ernest Whetstone

Arthur, who was born in 1897 (Apr/May/Jun), was the son of Thomas Whetstone and Louisa Ellen Whetstone (nee Brittain) Thomas and Louisa, who had married in Wolverhampton in 1880 (Apr/May/Jun), had 12 children of whom only eight were living at the time of the 1911 census. In 1891, before Arthur was born, Thomas and Louisa were living in the household of Mary Ann Mincer (formerly Brittain), Louisa's 60 year old widowed mother (an 'old clothes dealer') at 4 & 5 Canal Street, Wolverhampton. The large household comprised two married couples who were boarders, Mary Ann's sons, William Mincer (28) and Thomas Mincer (29), a niece Nellie Baggott (7), her daughter in law, Ada Brittain, two grandsons Charles Brittain (2) and Ernest Brittain (10 months) as well as Thomas (30) and Louisa (32) and their five children, Harry Charles (9), Frederick (7), Nellie Leah (5), Lillian/Marian Lillian (3) and Walter (8m) all of whom had been born in Wolverhampton. By 1901 Thomas and Louisa had moved to Nottingham where Thomas was working as a boot repairer, and were living at 30 Narrow Marsh with their seven children; Harry (19), Thomas F. (17), Nellie Leah (15), William Brittain (11), Albert (8), Harold (6) and Arthur Ernest (3). It is probable that Walter, who had been born shortly before the 1891 census, had since died. In 1911 the family was living at 7 Castle Terrace, Nottingham. Thomas was still a boot repairer (own account) and his wife was a wardrobe dealer (own account). In the household on the night of the census were seven of their children, Harry Charles (29), Nelly (Nellie) (25), Marian Lillian (22), William Brittain (21), Harold (15), Arthur Ernest (13) and Percy Baden (9). Given the statement on the census that they had eight children still living in 1911 it would appear that either Thomas or Albert had died in the interval between the 1901 and 1911 census. Also in the household on the night of the census were four visitors, Fanny Bailey (widow) with Harold Brittain, Florence and Gertrude Bailey, who were probably related to Louisa. Arthur's parents were the legatees of a modest sum from the Army.

He enlisted in Nottingham

'P' Special Company formerly L/42371 Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action on his 20th birthday (note age of 19 on CWGC record). He is buried in Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy (grave ref. III.F.28).

Death notices published 12th May 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “WHETSTONE. – Killed in action, May 5th, Private Arthur Whetstone. We could not stand beside you, to hear your last farewell, and not a word of comfort from those who loved you well. – From sorrowing father, mother, sisters, and brothers. “WHETSTONE. – Killed in action, on his 20th birthday, May 6th, 1917, Pioneer Arthur Whetstone, R.E., of 7, Castle-terrace, Nottingham. Duty nobly done. – From his heart-broken sister and brother-in-law, Lill and Dick.” Both above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918