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Rifleman John Harris Whitehead. Kings Royal Rifle Corps

M

MonsMons

New Member
A pal of mine found a 1914-18 Star with the above name on it. He found it about 30 years ago when replacing a sewer pipe in Birmingham.
I’ve found out john was born in Birmingham and moved to London . He was killed in action on 21st march 1918 and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
The only biographical information I have is his parents were the late Arthur and Annie Whitehead.
My pal would like to find out if there any relatives still in the area and he’d be happy to return the medal to them.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
 
hi and welcome...could i ask how you know that johns parents were arthur and annie whitehead..reason i ask is i think his ww1 service records survived and are on ancestry...just looking at a receipt for his medals and it was signed by an edith whitehead...just wondered who she was...his address looks like the refreshment rooms brookvale park erdington..may i also ask what area the medal was found...would certainly be great to pass it onto any remaining family

lyn
 
pjmburns said:
Lyn - if you go far enough through his records I think it gives Edith as nominated next of kin and as his sister.
Click to expand...
thanks jan i did wonder if she was his sister...good that his service records survived...just need to hope any family can claim the lost medal..

lyn
 
Astoness said:
hi and welcome...could i ask how you know that johns parents were arthur and annie whitehead..reason i ask is i think his ww1 service records survived and are on ancestry...just looking at a receipt for his medals and it was signed by an edith whitehead...just wondered who she was...his address looks like the refreshment rooms brookvale park erdington..may i also ask what area the medal was found...would certainly be great to pass it onto any remaining family

lyn
Click to expand...
On the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site that information appears but nothing else. I contacted a chap from the KRRC Association who said he was born in Birmingham but moved to London.
IIRC my pal said he was working in Aston I think, but I’ll check with him tonight!
 
thanks dave just looked at his records again and he was awarded 3 medals and it must have been his sister who lived in erdington...wonder what happened to the other 2 medals...

lyn
 
Edith's address and verification she was his sister. I would assue parents were both deceased and she was the only relative as there was a space for brothers but it said "none"
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Sadly a later undated letter has this entry at the bottom - need to check if Edith became Mrs Foster
I am not convinced this is in the right file.
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