Harold Whitton is someone commemorated on the Heddon on the Wall war memorial, one of 16 names of those that lost their lives in the Great War (1914-18). He is the only one that I could find no information about. The databases available at the time did show me a George Harold Whitton, but he was from York, and I could find no connection with him to our village. It always seemed sad having someone seemingly unknown and forgotten recorded on our memorial..
I was reminded of Harold Whitton recently when in April 2025 I received a message from a Colin Cresswell. He told me he was researching the names on the Heddon war memorial but couldn't find anything regarding Harold Whitton. He said he thought that he may have been either connected to Major James Knott, perhaps as a batman, or someone who's family had emigrated from Heddon.
Colin also said that Robert Armatage, Albert Wolland and George J Gibson must have known each other from childhood and lived close to each other in the village. Their service numbers were close (10406 10407 10412) implying that they joined up together. They would have also have known Basil & James Knott, or possibly served under them, as they were all originally in the 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers prior to Robert's commission.
Colin also investigated Greenhead War Memorial and came to the conclusion that Robert Armitage died in the same action as Clive Joicey of Blenkinsopp Hall, Greenhead.
Colin also said that Robert Armatage, Albert Wolland and George J Gibson must have known each other from childhood and lived close to each other in the village. Their service numbers were close (10406 10407 10412) implying that they joined up together. They would have also have known Basil & James Knott, or possibly served under them, as they were all originally in the 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers prior to Robert's commission.
Colin also investigated Greenhead War Memorial and came to the conclusion that Robert Armitage died in the same action as Clive Joicey of Blenkinsopp Hall, Greenhead.
The good news is that Colin has now solved the mystery of Harold Whitton and his connection to Heddon on the Wall. He found the information on new databases recording fallen railwaymen of the First World War.
Fallen Railwaymen Database
Roll of Honour
The main sources of information are St Paul's Cathedral Order of Service 1919, various railway magazines of the time, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Soldiers Died in the Great War, various census, trade union registers and various railway war memorials, North Eastern Railway Magazines, Great Eastern Railway Magazines, London & North Western Railway Magazines, and London & North Western Railway Roll of Honour.
Fallen Railwaymen Database
Roll of Honour
The main sources of information are St Paul's Cathedral Order of Service 1919, various railway magazines of the time, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Soldiers Died in the Great War, various census, trade union registers and various railway war memorials, North Eastern Railway Magazines, Great Eastern Railway Magazines, London & North Western Railway Magazines, and London & North Western Railway Roll of Honour.
Information shown on Roll of Honour database.
A mis-spelling of his name, which should be WHITTEN, not Whitton, hadn't helped our searches.
Click this image for database link to Harold Whitten.
We can now put a face, and much more detail too to the life and death of Heddon's, Harold Whitton.
Harold W Whitten was born in Workington, Cumbria, the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Jane McKie Whitten. In the 1901 census he was aged 6, and resident with his grandparents, Abraham and Jane Whitten, in Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland. In 1913 he was working as a porter at Heddon on the Wall Railway Station. He enlisted (at Whithorn) as a private (Service Number 6140) in 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He was wounded in action in October 1914, in field hospital 29 October 1914, transferred in sick convoy 30 October 1914. He was brought to Newcastle for treatment and on his recovery went again to France where he was killed in action on 10 March 1915 in the vicinity of Neuve Chappelle, at age 33. He is commemorated on Panel 12 and 13 LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France.
Harold W Whitten was born in Workington, Cumbria, the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Jane McKie Whitten. In the 1901 census he was aged 6, and resident with his grandparents, Abraham and Jane Whitten, in Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland. In 1913 he was working as a porter at Heddon on the Wall Railway Station. He enlisted (at Whithorn) as a private (Service Number 6140) in 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He was wounded in action in October 1914, in field hospital 29 October 1914, transferred in sick convoy 30 October 1914. He was brought to Newcastle for treatment and on his recovery went again to France where he was killed in action on 10 March 1915 in the vicinity of Neuve Chappelle, at age 33. He is commemorated on Panel 12 and 13 LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France.
The notes show that he is listed as Whittington on SDGW, spelt Witton on the Army Medical Records, and several other records, but WHITTEN on most other records.
Heddon on the Wall Railway Station. Date of photo & identity of porter oln the platform are unknown.
Science Museum Group. St Pauls Cathedral divine service. 1998-9566 Science Museum Group Collection Online. Accessed 31 May 2025.
https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co445435/st-pauls-cathedral-divine-service..
https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co445435/st-pauls-cathedral-divine-service..
Harold Whitten is also commemorated on Whithorn War Memorial.
War Memorial, Whithorn. © Copyright Billy McCrorie (2021) and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence.
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