Robert J WHALEY

28643, Private. b. 1877, Bradford d. Tue. 1st May 1917 (aged 40).

Robert attestation papers show him signing up on 11 the December 1915 just days before his 38th Birthday on 29th December, the age limit at that time being 39. He is shown living at 8 Edgar Street in Girlington, Bradford with his wife Ellen, his occupation is listed as Carter. They have 2 young children, Mary aged 2 and Winifred aged 1.

He was placed in the 13th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment known as ‘T’others’ as it was the 4th Hull Pals battalion; the first was known as ‘the Commercials’, the second known as ‘the Tradesmen’, the third known as ‘the Sportsmen’.

He was sent out to France in late 1916 to help bring the battalion back up to full strength and was involved in the planning and preparation for the Battle of Oppy Wood on the 3rd May 1917.

The 13th Battalion’s job was to guide two of the other three Hull Pals battalions (the Commercials and Sportsmen) up to the front line and so consequently, the 13th were based in the region some days before all the other units came up to the front.

On the night of the 1st May the German army detected activity in the British trenches, which was coming from the 13th’s troops guiding the rest of the Pals into their starting positions for the forthcoming offensive, so they launched a short but heavy artillery bombardment. It only lasted for 27 minutes, but in that time killed six men from the 13th battalion, including Robert. His body was never found and he is now remembered on the Arras memorial.

Robert was the son of Dennis and Annie Whaley of Langberries Farm, Clayton. Annie was living at Fall Top House, Clayton.

Robert aged 30, married Ellen Wood on 22 April 1908 at St Johns Church, his occupation is as a farmer. Ellen was awarded a War Widows pension of 22s 11d per week for herself and 2 children.