Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
The War Diary for the previous day’s action shows the following casualties, officers killed 2nd Lt E. L. HALL M.C., 2nd Lt G. S. Hebden. Officers wounded, Capt P. H. CREAGH D.S.O. (did not quit), 2nd Lt J. R. WARREN, 2nd Lt H. J. GRANT-ANDERSON, 2nd Lt H. W. G. WESTLAKE M.C. and Lt U. H. E. SOWTER who afterwards died of wounds, other ranks 18 killed, 101 wounded. The War Diary for today records. At dawn A Coy patrolled to the front for 1 ½ miles. No sign of enemy. 8th Bde passed through followed by 19th and 21st Bde’s. At 12.00 noon 28th Bde marched and bivouacked near SAMARRA STATION arriving about 3.00pm. 8th Bde 1 ½ miles to our front finding picquet.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 22nd, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Lance-Corporal B. Morley (Whitwick) and Pte. J. Callier (Ellistown) both of the Leicestershire Regiment, are reported killed in action.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 29th, 1917

Lance-Corporal Benjamin Morley, of the Leicestershire Regiment, reported killed in action, was a former collier, of Whitwick, a single man about 23 years of age. His parents are both dead. His sister, Mrs Redburn of Pare’s Hill, Whitwick, has been officially notified of the death.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 15th, 1918

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT WHITWICK

TABLET IN HOLY CROSS CHURCH

The Bishop of Nottingham, the Rev. Father Dunn, unveiled a memorial tablet in the Whitwick Holy Cross Church, on Sunday containing the names of 12 men, formerly connected with the church, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the war. The names and dates each recorded on small square bronze plates, and fixed on the tablet in three columns, are as follows:

Private James Cairns, Connaught Rangers, killed in action, August 21st, 1915.
Private A. C. Johnstone, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, September 1st, 1915.
Sapper B. Whittaker, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 25th, 1915.
Private Edward Jarvis, Grenadier Guards, killed in action, October 17th, 1915.
Private Ed Hunt, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, January 7th, 1916.
Private C. Stanford, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, July 14th, 1916.
Private Jos. Sheffield, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 26th, 1916.
Lance-Corporal B. Morley, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, April 23rd, 1917.
Private Harold Edwin Ketcher, 12th Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action, June 16th, 1917
Corporal A. Concannon, M.M. Sherwood Foresters, killed in action, July 31st, 1917.
Private William Beasley, 1st Leicesters, killed in action, September 11th, 1917.
Rifleman L. Haywood, Scottish Rifles, torpedoed at sea, December 30th, 1917.

The tablet, which is surmounted by a crucifix, reads, “In memory of our devoted heroes who fell in the great war. Your prayers are requested for the repose of the souls of (names)”.

At the foot appear the words, “May they rest in peace.” Space is left for the addition of any further names if this becomes necessary. There was a large congregation, including the relatives of the deceased soldiers, and after the unveiling, a memorial service was held. This was conducted by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly, assisted by Father Degan of Coalville, and the Bishop preached the sermon.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 16/11/2017