Private William James WHATTON (known as James)
778th Royal Army Service Corps M2/050405
William Whatton 1877-1955
James was born in 1877 (or 1879) in Hartwell, Northamptonshire, the son of George Whatton, a Salcey woodman, and his wife, Harriet, who was a lace-maker. When he left school James worked as a gardener on a large estate in Hartwell. On 23 February 1904 he married Annie Knight and when their children were born James had learned the new skill of driving and was a ‘motorcar driver’. As his family grew he looked for new employment and he became chauffeur to Lord Erskine (5th Baron Erskine) at Spratton Hall. They often accompanied the Erskines when they travelled down to Brighton for the season. The family was accommodated in The Schoolmaster’s House in School Road, Spratton. This was situated next to the primary school and has since been demolished. (The Schoolmaster had moved to private accommodation in the village). James and Annie had three daughters, Mary Annie, Jessica May, and Marjorie and a son William Richard.
James was 37 when war was declared and he volunteered for the Army Service Corps in July 1915. He served as a driver in Salonika (now Thessaloniki) in Greece and received the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
James was a fine athlete in his younger days, but had problems with repeated bone fractures in later life. He was killed in an accident in Kingsthorpe, near Northampton, as he escorted a relative across the road. He died on 15 December1955 in Northampton General Hospital aged 78.
Spratton Primary School (right) with The Schoolmaster’s House (left). William Whatton is standing in the doorway
Spratton Primary School (right) with The Schoolmaster’s House (left). William Whatton is standing in the doorway
William Whatton with his athletic trophies in the early 1900s
William Whatton with his athletic trophies in the early 1900s
EXPLORE SECTIONS
MEN WHO SERVED
- Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
- Corporal Frank AUSTIN
- Lance Corporal James William AUSTIN
- Private John Samuel AUSTIN
- Sergeant William Henry AUSTIN
- Sergeant Bertie Henry BALDERSON
- Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
- Lance Corporal Robert Samuel BALDERSON
- Private George William BUCKBY (known as William)
- Private Henry Andrew BUCKBY
- Richard Henry Horne BUCKBY
- Transport Sergeant Thomas BUCKBY MM
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Gander BUCKBY
- William Archibald COPSON (known as Archibald)
- Sapper Ebenezer COPSON
- Private Ernest Edward COPSON
- Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
- Private James COPSON
- Private John William COPSON
- Private Joseph COPSON
- Private Arthur Sidney GOODEN (known as Sidney)
- Private Hugh Henry GOODEN
- Sergeant Joseph Eric GOODEN (known as Eric)
- Private Arthur Thomas HAYTER
- Driver Frank Leonard HAYTER
- Private Harold Herbert HAYTER
- Lance Corporal John Charles HAYTER DCM (known as Jack)
- Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
- Ordinary Seaman Arthur Charles HORNE
- Private John William HORNE (known as William)
- Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
- Private Thomas HORNE
- Driver John Henry LEESON
- Corporal Joseph Henry LEESON (known as Harry)
- Thomas Baden Powell LEESON (known as ‘Bard’)
- Private Albert MANNING
- Corporal Amos MANNING
- Private Arthur Cecil MANNING
- Private George MANNING
- Sergeant George William MANNING
- Sapper Henry Stanley MANNING (known as Stanley)
- Private John Thomas MANNING
- Private John William MANNING
- Air Mechanic Nathaniel MANNING
- Driver/Saddler Samuel MANNING
- Gunner George Albert MARTIN
- Private Joseph MARTIN
- Private Thomas Henry MARTIN (known as Harry)
- Private Thomas Walter MARTIN (known as Walter)
- Pioneer Walter Ernest MARTIN
- Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
- Private Arthur Walter PAGE
- Private Francis Samuel PAGE (known as Sam)
- Private Frank PAGE
- Private Stephen PAGE
- Lieutenant George REEVE MC MM
- Private Richard Henry REEVE (known as Harry)
- Private Samuel REEVE
- Private Sidney Philip REEVE
- Private Frederick Thomas RICHARDSON
- Private John William RICHARDSON
- Private Percy John Partridge RICHARDSON
- Private Abraham Bert SMITH
- Private Alfred SMITH
- Private Frank SMITH 46648
- Private John Samuel SMITH
- Private John William SMITH (6942)
- Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
- Private Charles Walter WADHAMS
- Private John Edward WADHAMS
- Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
- Private William WADHAMS