This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1. Today we especially commemorate Lieutenant Allix James William Griffith of the 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment who was born on this day in 1895.Today we especially commemorate Captain Darcy Philip Assheton Gray of the 457 Protection Company Royal Defence Corps who died on this day in 1944.
Whitley, Benjamin Greaves
(1884-1967)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Corporal

Service Number 9912

Service Army

Battalion

Regiment Army Pay Corps

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Foundry agent
Marital status: Married


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite immediately prewar or during the war
  • Named as an Absent Voter due to Naval or Military Service on the 1918 or 1919 Absent Voter list for Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite

Biography

Family background

Benjamin Greaves Whitley was born in Bramley, Leeds in 1884, the son of John Whitely. In 1911, he was living at Eshold Villas, Woodlesford with his widowed father and his brother and two sisters. Benjamin was a commissioning agent for a foundry.

On the 4th September 1912, Benjamin married Beatrice Huscroft Poole at the Parish Church in Lofthouse, Yorkshire. Benjamin was 28, gave his address as Eshald Villas, Woodlesford and his occupation as a traveller. Their son, Joseph H Whitley, was born on the 16th September 1916.

Service record

Benjamin's name appears in the Collingham Electoral roll for 1914, 1915, and in 1918 he is listed as an absent voter due to Naval or Military Service. On his military service record, Benjamin gave his address as Clevedale, Collingham.

Benjamin enlisted for military service on the 2nd December 1915 and was immediately transferred to the reserve. He stayed in reserve until the 19th November 1916. During this time, his son, Joseph Haywood Whitely, was born on the 16th September 1916. Only two months later, Benjamin was called up (on the 19th November 1916). He was posted to the Army Pay Corps/Army Service Corps with the service number 9912 and went to the West Yorkshire Depot. One year later exactly he was promoted to Corporal in the Army Pay Corps.

Benjamin carried out all of his military service in the UK and was transferred to the reserve after the war was over on the 23rd March 1919.

After the war

In 1939, Benjamin, Beatrice and Joseph were all registered as living at 2 Kent Drive, Harrogate, where Benjamin was a District Manager at an iron foundry.

Biography last updated 16 November 2019 17:30:06.


Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 27174
First World War British Army Pension Records. The National Archives (WO364).

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info