John Whitley was born in 1892 in Mold, Flintshire. The 1901 census records him living with his family at Maes y Dre, Mold. Living at the house were father Thomas Whitley aged 41 a tin plate worker ‘roller’, his wife Jane 41,and children Robert 14, (also at the tin plate works ‘in the yard’), Fred 11, John 9 and Edward 6.

Ten years later in the 1911 census we find John 19, living and working as a labourer at his Uncle’s (Robert Jones) Farm Plas y Brain, Treuddyn. John’s brother Robert 23 was also working at the farm as a waggoner.

UK Soldiers who Died in The great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details above and adds that he enlisted in Flint. His medal card also on ‘Ancestry’ lists his medals and stated that his first Theatre of War was ‘The Balkans’ (Gallipoli) and he entered it on the 8th August 1915. Both these sources say that he ‘Died’. This category of death meant that he had either died from illness or an accident (rather than being ‘killed in action’ or ‘died of wounds’).

On the back of the medal card is written the note

” O i/c Records Shrewsbury requests instr re disposal of medals. 4.11.21″

The UK Register of Soldier’s Effects, (on Ancestry) in which the Army calculated what monies were owed to deceased soldiers, includes an entry for John Whitley. It confirms his regiment and death date and says that the sum of £6 ..14sh .. 3d was paid to Thomas Evan Williams for the benefit of sister Mrs Harriet Whitley.

This source tells us that the cause of his death in Gallipoli was “Exposure”.