WHITTAKER, Herbert

Herbert Whittaker was born in Brierley Hill and living in Netherton when the Great War started. He joined the Worcesters and served in the 10th Battalion on the Western Front. They took part in the 1916 Battle of the Somme from the first day of the 1st July when they were at La Boisselle. They were in the front line on the 3rd and helped to capture La Boisselle with great courage. Notably, Private Turrall was awarded the Divison’s first Victoria Cross. They suffered heavily in the attacks on High Wood and were not involved again until November on the Ancre. In 1917 they were involved in the Battles of Messines and then the Third Battle of Ypres. They fought in the first battle on the 31st July at Pilkem Ridge and were again in action in the late September battle of the Menin Road. In March 1918 they were again in the front line and suffered the first day of the first German Spring offensive on the 21st March. Heavy losses were tyaken and among them was Private Herbert Whittaker. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial and the Brierley Hill Memorial.