Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Whitlock, a carpenter, born 1861 in Tugby, Leicestershire, and who was the son of William and Caroline Whitlock, and his wife Rachel Whitlock (nee Clarke, married 1883), born 1861 in Ireland. James Clarke was born in the 3rd quarter of 1892 in Tugby, his siblings were, Alfred, a pupil teacher, born 1884, Nora, born 1887, Elsie, born 1890, Phyllis, born 1891 and Alec, born in the 3rd quarter of 1895, all his sibling were born in Tugby, in March 1901 the family home was at The Cottage, Tugby. In the 4th quarter of 1908 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district, James’ father died aged 47. In April 1911 James was absent from the family home at Tugby, residing there were his siblings, Nora, a dress maker, Elsie, an elementary school teacher and Alec a farm labourer, James was engaged as an assistant teacher and was residing as a boarder at Station Road, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. In the 4th quarter of 1915 James married Ethel May Carter in the Leicester district, they resided at 227, Humberstone Road, Leicester. His younger brother Alec fell in action on the 14th July 1916.
James attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) for 3 years with the Colours and in the Army Reserve on the 10th September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Tugby, Leicestershire, his age as 22 years and 97 days and his trade or calling as school teacher. He gave his place of residence as 6, Church Terrace, Melton Mowbray, and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother Rachel Whitlock of Tugby, Leicestershire, his brother Alfred Whitlock of Thorney, Peterborough and his sister Norah Whitlock of Tugby, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height, weighed 147 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 36 inches. His hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 10th September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 9/14910 on the 10/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 24/9/14. Appointed paid Acting Lance Corporal, in Aldershot on the 22/12/14. Promoted Acting Sergeant (Machine Gun Section) in Aldershot on the 12/2/15. Confirmed in the rank of Sergeant, in the field on the 27/7/15. Admitted to the 48th Field Ambulance suffering from Inflamed Con. Tissue, in the field on the 20/8/15. Discharged from the 48th Field Ambulance I.C.T., in the field on the 25/8/15. Admitted to 64th Field Ambulance suffering from a gun shot wound to the neck and chest, in the field on the 15/7/16. Admitted to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station, in the field on the 15/7/16. Admitted to No.6 General Hospital, Rouen on the 17/7/16. Died in No.6 General Hospital, Rouen at 7.45pm from a gunshot wound to the neck and chest on the 17/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service 10/9/14 – 28/7/15, 322 days. British Expeditionary Force, France 29/7/15 – 17/7/16, 354 days. Total service 1 year 311 days. James was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. James’ surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 15 Jul-16 - BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT. At 2.00am Battalion ordered to go back to centre of MAMETZ WOOD by 8.00am. At 8.00am arrived at rendezvous. At 9.00am ordered to return to original post. At 9.45am reached original line with slight losses. The day was spent in clearing the wood and organising Companies. At 9.00pm 2nd Lieutenant SARGEANT and 20 men went to dig themselves in at the North Western edge of the wood. They arrived at position but were isolated with a barrage of rifle grenades behind them and are believed to have all been killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 16 Jul-16 - BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT. Same as preceding days. Rations arrived safely which they had not done before and men got food and rum and became a little less exhausted. At 3.00pm 2nd Lieutenant LEE and 1 platoon went to forward railway line behind 2nd Lieutenant SARGEANT in support of the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT They endeavoured to find 2nd Lieutenant SARGEANT’S party but failed. At 5.30pm Captain BENT with “D” and “B” Companies went to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT village to relieve 2 Companies of the 98th Infantry Brigade. Orders received that we would be relieved by 64th Infantry Brigade. Relief was very slow owing to the great mixing up of units. On the 16th/17th July the last party relieved and reached bivouacs near FRICOURT at 11.00am 17th July. Casualties in the Battalion during operations 14th/17th July, 18 officers and 394 other ranks.
On Friday July 28th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON SCHOOLMASTER KILLED. – We very much regret to learn that Sergt. James C. Whitlock died on Monday week from wounds received in action. His relatives were officially informed that he had been admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds in neck and chest, and the news of his death followed shortly afterwards. Deceased’s home was at Tugby, but he came to Melton Mowbray some three years ago as assistant master at the Church Boys School. He enlisted in Kitchener’s Army in September 1914, and was attached to the 8th Leicesters. Last November he was married while home on short leave. Deceased was very popular with the boys at the school and during his residence at Tugby he was a prominent member of the village cricket club.
On Friday November 10th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – THE LATE LIEUT. C. J. WRIGHT. – In this week’s Battalion Orders of the Leicestershire Cadets, Colonel H. Harvey, V.D., D.L., says: The C.O. notes with deep regret the death in France of Second-Lieut. C. J. Wright, Machine Gun Corps, one of the original officers of this battalion. The C.O. is sure that his regret will be shared by all ranks, and trusts that the example of Second-Lieut. Wright’s sacrifice will not be lost on the Battalion. At a meeting of the Governors held on November 3rd, 1916. Mr. Richard Dalgliesh, D.L., J.P., chairman of Governors presiding, the following resolution was adopted:- “That this meeting of the Governors of the County Grammar School of King Edward VII, Melton Mowbray, place on record their appreciation of the services rendered to the school and of the high example set to the scholars by the late Senior Science Master, Second- Lieutenant Charles James Wright, South Staffordshire Regiment, killed in action in France on the 19th October, 1916, and that the Chairman be asked to convey to his wife and relatives the assurance of their sympathy with them in their irreparable loss.” At Wednesday’s meeting of the Leicestershire County Council, the Chairman (Mr. T. Cope), in moving the adoption of the Education Committee’s report, said the committee had learned with deep regret the death on active service of Second Lieutenant C. J. Wright, late of Melton Mowbray Grammar School, Sergeant J. C. Whitlock, Melton Mowbray C.E. School and Private C. G. Taylor, Lutterworth Boy’s School. They had been gratified to hear that Lieutenant M. A. Kent, a woodwork instructor had been awarded the Military Cross.