Emrys Whitley was the son of Joseph and Margaret Ann Whitley, of Mount Terrace, Lane End. Emrys was wounded at Gallipoli and died on board a hospital ship. Prior to the war he was employed at Gregory’s Mineral Water Works in Lane End, Buckley.
Emrys Whitley was one of four Buckley soldiers killed at Gallipoli in August and September 1915, the others being Samuel Jones, Edward Roberts and John William Parry
Emrys was born in about 1895 but a specific birth or baptism record has not been found. From a family history compiled by Irene Owens, his parents were Joseph Whitley and Margaret Anne Jones, who married in Mold in 1899. Margaret was a widow and her maiden name was Hughes. By the time of the 1911 census Joseph and Margaret had 5 children, 4 then living including Thomas Edward, Emrys (written as Amos), William and Margaret Ellen.
In 1901 Joseph Whitley was serving with the RWF in Devon and Margaret, Thomas (11) and Emrys (7) were at Milford St Mold. In 1891 Joseph was serving in India. Margaret and Thomas have not been found in the 1891 census.
Emrys was remembered in two newspaper articles.
Flintshire Observer, September 30, 1915.
Private Emrys Whitley, who has been killed in action while serving with the l/5th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers in Gallipoli, was a son of Mr. Joseph Whitley, Mount Terrace, Buckley. Another son of Mr. Whitley, who was in the Cheshires, was killed in France some months ago. Private E. Whitley was 21 years of age, and prior to the war was employed by Mr. Sydney Gregory, mineral water manufacturer. He was a footballer, playing with a Buckley team. His father is an old soldier, having served with the 1st Royal Welch Fusiliers in the Black Mountain and Burma expeditions, and also in the South African War.
County Herald, October 1, 1915
BUCKLEY BROTHERS KILLED.
As mentioned in our last issue, official news has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Whitley of Mount Terrace, Lane End, Buckley of the death from wounds received at the Dardanelles during August of their son, Emrys Whitley, who was a member of the Hawarden Company of the Flintshire Territorials. The deceased was a football player with one of the Buckley teams, and was employed at Gregory’s Mineral Water Works. Whilst with the Territorials at Northampton and other places in this country the deceased soldier had written to his parents a number of cheery letters. Mrs. Whitley, when seen on Friday by our reporter, was much grieved at the sad news, the more so as a brother who was in one of the Cheshire regiments met with his death in France a few months ago. The father, Mr. Joseph Whitley, is employed at a local brickworks, and he himself is an old soldier, having served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the Black Mountain and Burma expeditions, and also in the South African War
From these articles it was initially not clear if they referred to a brother of Emrys or a brother of Mrs. Whitley. Based on input from Irene Owens, the correct interpretation of the articles is that it was a brother of Mrs. Whitley born Margaret Ann Hughes who was killed. Reports that Emrys had a brother who was killed appear to be mistaken. We have not been able to trace this brother. There are 7 men named Hughes on the Mold Memorial but none were in the Cheshires or match to Margaret Ann. CWGC records identify 8 men from the Cheshire Regiment who were killed before Emrys; again, none can be matched to Margaret Ann or the Buckley/Mold area.
Emrys was a cousin to three men named on the Mold Memorial: brothers Harold Whitley and Thomas John Whitley, and Walter Whitley – all grandsons of William Whitley and Ellen Jones.
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Additional information and images provided by Bill Rosedale.
Emrys Whitley’s Medal Card, lists his three medals and also tells us that Gallipoli was his first theatre of war and that he had entered it on the 8th August 1915. Eight days later he was dead. The Register of Soldier’s Effects in which the army calculated what monies were owed to deceased soldiers has an entry for Emrys. It confirms his death date and that he died of wounds on Hospital Ship Salta. The sum of £2..14sh ..1d was paid to his father Joseph, on the 28th February 1916. A further £3 ..10sh was paid to his mother Margaret on the 1st September 1919. (These documents are accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk )
Bill Rosedale made the journey to Gallipoli in 2016 to pay homage to his relative, Emrys Whitley. Many thanks to Bill for sharing the following images from Gallipoli
