REV DR SAMUEL PEGGE

Taken from the Derby Mercury 7th April 1796.

The obituary for Rev Dr Samuel Pegge (1704-1796). Samuel Pegge was born in Chesterfield and served as Rector of Whittington for 45 years.

Rev Dr Samuel Pegge was a well known Old Whittington resident and was also a well respected Antiquarian and Archaeologist.
(Picture of Samuel Pegge taken from Wikipedia.org)

NEW PROJECT

I thought I would start a new chapter on the Old Whittington one Place study website https://oldwhittingtonops.com/newspaper-reports/

As I was researching the men on the war memorial I was coming across all sorts different newspaper reports concerning Old Whittington. I thought I would try and share a few on here and also on the webpage.

Todays offering is a celebration of the Centenary of the 'Glorious revolution' from the Derbyshire Mercury 2nd October 1788. From the sounds of it quite a big celebration - the cost 1 guinea! Checking the currency convertor website one guinea in 1790 would be the equivalent of £80 now, so the celebrations would only be open to the wealthy of the area!

End of the Research!

I have now finished the task I set myself 18 months ago of filling out the lives of the fallen men on the two memorials, 89 in total, who served in WW1. To make them become more than just a name etched on the memorials. Hopefully you have found the stories interesting and the men have now become real people to everyone who has followed the page. The research has been in turn interesting, sad, thought provoking but ultimately I feel immense pride for what these men did. Ordinary working men who answered the call when the country needed their help.
Unfortunately there are five men I cannot trace. I can find the names but not sufficient enough evidence to connect them with Whittington.
They are:
Norman Dennison
Charles Fearn
William Fisher
John Short
George Sims

I have found a Wilfred Fisher from Johnson Street who won the Military Medal and died on 21.3.18. This may be the correct man and I will post his story on the webpage anyway.

If anyone has any information on these missing men or is descended from them then please get in touch.

All information on the sources used can be found at
https://oldwhittingtonops.com/source-information/

In future I will be updating the page with other information on different aspects of Whittington lives from the past and hope that you will continue to find the information interesting.

FREDERICK MITCHELL

I have just finished researching Fred Mitchell who died 30th May 1918 after serving from the start of the war in 1914.

Fred served with the Royal Engineers Waterways and Railways Troops.  I have to admit I had never heard of these troops before.  It was hard to pin point where in France Fred was serving but he would certainly have been involved in some heavy fighting.

John E GREEN

John Green died at Passchendaele on 12th October 1917, leaving a young wife and baby at Sheepbridge.  His story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/green-john-e/

He is one of the small number of men who are only remembered on the Brushes memorial.

John SMITH

I have just finished researching John Smith and my research can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/smith-john/

I have to admit when I first read the name I did worry that I wouldn't be able to find the correct man, however, as sometimes happens, John turned out easier to trace than I expected.

I managed to contact a great niece of Johns which helped to confirm I was on the correct path.

Sadly I have not yet found a photo of John Smith, and if there are any other descendants of the Smith family who might have a photo or any other information then please get in touch.

Samuel WAINE

I have just finished researching the life of Samuel Waine. Sam came from Church Street and died on 2nd July 1918.
His story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/waine-sam/

William Arthur BELFITT

I have just finished researching William Arthur Belfitt and his story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/belfitt-wm-arthur/

This was a bit of a tricky one with still a few unconfirmed pieces of information. I have never researched a member of the RFC later the RAF and it was quite a learning curve for me, and I found some it very interesting and distracting!

I haven't found a picture of William as yet but will keep looking and if any descendants of the Belfitt family have any photos or information they would like to share then please get in touch.

Ernest GILBERTHORPE

I have just finished my research into the life of Ernest Gilberthorpe. He died on 27th May 1918, he was 23 years old. His story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/gilberthorpe-ernest/

I haven't yet found a photo for Ernest but will keep looking.

If any descendants of the Gilberthorpe family have any stories or photos they would like to share on the webpage then please get in touch.

William WHITMORE

I have just finished researching the life of William Whitmore and his story can be read here https://oldwhittingtonops.com/whitmore-wm/

Researching Williams story was slightly different to normal as much has been written about what happened to him. Two weeks ago I was appox 1 mile away from where William died , had I known at that time I could have visited his grave!!

If any descendants of Williams family have any information or stories they would like to share then please contact me.

ARTHUR (ARCHIE) NEWELL

I have just finished researching Arthur Newell listed on the Old Whittington memorials as Archie.  He was 21 years old when he died and his story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/newell-archie/

If any descendants of Arthur’s family have any photos or stories they would like to share on the webpage then please get in touch.  I have not managed to find a photo of Arthur yet, but will keep looking.

JOHN NEWEY

I have just finished researching the story of John Newey and it can be read here https://oldwhittingtonops.com/newey-john/

I haven't managed to find a lot of information on John's life but he is remembered on Brimington War Memorial as well as the Whittington Memorials. Sally Mullins has researched John Newey too and this can be read at http://www.brimington-memorial.co.uk/

CEMETERY LIST

In case anyone is thinking of visiting the WW1 battlefields and cemeteries of France and would like to visit the resting places of the Whittington men, I have put a list for the men I have researched so far on the website https://oldwhittingtonops.com/cemetery-list/

I have put it in cemetery order rather than alphabetical to make it more useful for cemetery visits. I will add the remaining cemeteries when I have finished the research.

John T Warwick

I have just finished researching the life story of John Warwick and it can be read here https://oldwhittingtonops.com/warrick-jno-thos/
John was 27 years old and left a wife and three young children.

If any of John Warwick's descendants would like to add any family stories or photographs then please get in touch.

JOHN SMITHESON

We remember today John Smitheson who died on 8th March 1916, he left two young children. 

I have only done a bit of research into John Smithesons life so far and if any descendant of the family has any information they would like to share on the website then please get in touch.

PERCY CARLILE

I have just finished researching Percy Carlile and his story can be read here https://oldwhittingtonops.com/carlile-percy/

Percy and his brother John were both killed in WW1
along with their cousin Alexander (Alec). 

If any descendants of the Carlile family would like to add any family stories or other information then please contact me.

GEORGE BONSON

Today we remember George Bonson who died 9th February 1917 aged 20. George joined up in November 1915 when he was only 17 years of age! 

He is buried at Euston Road Cemetery Colincamps France.

I have part researched George's life but if any descendants of George's family would like to add any family stories or photographs then please get in touch.

WE REMEMBER IN FEBRUARY

Apologies didn't notice it was the 1st yesterday !!

GEORGE BONSON DIED 9TH FEBRUARY 1917

HORACE AARON DIED 14TH FEBRUARY 1916

GEORGE KIRK DIED 14TH FEBRUARY 1916

WM JAS THURMAN DIED 14TH FEBRUARY 1916

F WHEELHOUSE DIED 14TH FEBRUARY 1917

Horace Aarons story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/horace-aaron/

Wm Jas Thurman story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/thurman-wm-jas/

ALEXANDER CARLILE

I have just finished my research into Alexanders story and it can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/carlile-alexander/

Another ordinary man called upon to do his duty which he did with the utmost bravery, as did so many others.

If any descendants of Alec or his cousins Percy and John who I will be researching next have any information, family stories or photos they would like to add then please get in touch.

H E WHITBREAD

I have just finished my research into the life of H E Whitbread. 

Ernest is listed on the Brushes Memorial and also remembered on Bedford St Peters Memorial.
Ernest's story can be read here https://oldwhittingtonops.com/whitbread-h-e/

Ernest was a bit tricky to trace and cross reference, many thanks to Gloria Evison for the information which helped to confirm some of my findings.

Christopher Loomes DCM

Christopher is one of only two men on the Whittington War Memorials who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. 

I have just finished my research into Christophers life and it can be read here https://oldwhittingtonops.com/loomes-christopher-dcm/

If anyone descended from the Loomes/ Hewitt family would like to add any family stories or photographs then please get in touch I would love to hear from you.

THURMAN BROTHERS

THURMAN BROTHERS

I have been contacted by a family member who has kindly sent me photos of Joseph and William Thurman.

Josephs story can be read at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/thurman-joseph/

and Williams story at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/thurman-wm-jas/

Looking at the photographs certainly reminds you of just how young these boys who left the village never to return were!