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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 133

'The Battery was exceptionally fortunate in starting the War with such Officers as the late Captain R. T. Benn, Lieut. (now Captain) J. H. Eddison, Lieut. V. Whitaker, and Lieut. (now Captain) F. B. Holmes. They were all men of vastly different outlook on life, yet all alike possessed the sterling qualities of courage both moral and physical. With happy spontaneity an "esprit-de-corps" was thus established, with the result that the Unit ran like a piece of well-oiled machinery'

A Record of D 245 Battery 1914-19, by Sergeant A. E. Gee, M.M., refers

A Great War pair awarded to Lieutenant V. Whitaker M.C., Royal Field Artillery

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. V. Whitaker. R.F.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. V. Whitaker); Victory Medal 1914-19, last erased, good very fine (3)

[M.C.] London Gazette 14 January 1916.

Victor Whitaker was born on 26 November 1887, the fourth and youngest son of Jeremiah Whitaker of Esscroft, Burley-in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire. Educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge, he travelled in Africa and South America before attesting for the 4th West Riding Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in the autumn of 1914. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and posted to 'D' Battery, 245th (West Riding) Brigade, Whitaker served in France from 16 April 1915. It was whilst with this Battery that he and Lieutenant J. H. Eddison were awarded the M.C. for 'distinguished services at Richebourg and Ypres,' Bombardier J. R. Rhodes and Gunners A. Driver and N. Tennant being at that time also decorated with 'well-deserved' D.C.M.'s (ibid). Whitaker was also 'mentioned' (London Gazette 7 January 1916, refers).

On 10 April 1917, he was severely wounded at Carency, Vimy Ridge, when the Canadian Corps made a decisive attack and successfully captured 4,000 prisoners and 50 guns. The Third Army took a further 3,000 prisoners and 30 guns. Amid this success, Whitaker was extremely unlucky:

'The same day a German 4.2" Battery fired many rounds on our position, but only one caused any damage. However, this wounded both Lieut. V. Whitaker and Lieut. S R. Butler, who had rushed from the Mess to see the effect of a previous shell which had hit the gun pit. They were caught full in the blast of the shell, and blown down. Both were "Blighty" cases, Lieut. Whitaker being seriously wounded in the leg. He was carried to the Canadian dressing station some way in front of the guns. We felt intensely sorry to lose him, and he had been with us as Section Commander since Doncaster. Athough suffering badly from shock and loss of blood, he gave his final orders in the dressing station is his usual cool and calm way, and bade us a reluctant goodbye.'

According to the Ilkley Gazette, which described the event under the headline 'Ilkley Howitzer Officer Wounded' on 20 April 1917:

'Sec. Lieut. Victor Whitaker, M.C., R.F.A., has been wounded by a shell, portions of which injured him in the calf of the right leg, the buttock, the back and a piece passed through the side of the right thigh.'

Discharged due to his wounds and awarded the Silver War Badge 'B13673', Whitaker joined the Ministry of Munitions, and continued to remain in their service when he claimed his Medals on 24 September 1921; sold with copied research including extracts from A Record of D 245 Battery 1914-19 and MIC.


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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£60