Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, 981 Private John Harry Whittimore, 2nd Battalion East Yorks Regiment.
Officially impressed: “981 Pte J. Whittimore, 2nd E. Yorkshire Regt”
Confirmed on the medal roll, additionally earned a loose 1901 dated clasp.
With copy service papers
Born 1864 in Northampton, Northamptonshire on 10th August 1864.
Served:
Home, 19th March 1884 – 17th March 1885
Gibraltar, 18th march 1885 – 17th Jan 1886
India, 18th Jan 1886 – 13th Dec 1888
Home, 14th December 1888 – 9th March 1891
10th March 1891 – 9th March 1896
10th March 1906 – 19th March 1900
South Africa, 14th March 1900 – 4th March 1901
Home, 5th March 1901, discharged following 12 years.
Appointed Lance Corporal, 26th April 1890
29th December 1890, reverted to Private for misconduct.
Also arrested on a “Civil Conviction” on 11th July 1899, whilst with the Army Reserves.
This conviction, noted in the Egginton Petty Sessions,
:”John H. Whittimore, of no fixed abode, was charged with being found on the enclosed premises of Mr E. Eyre, for an unlawful purposed, at Norton, on July 6th. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, committed to Derby Jail for 10 days.”
In his later years, he was taken in at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea to become one of the famous “Chelsea Pensioners”.
The 1939 Census, lists him as a 75 year old “In Pensioner” at The Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Died in Aylsbury, Buckinghamshire during 1943.
The Bedfordshire Mercury, 26th June 1908 recalls at the local magistrate, John appearing to celebrate his retirement from the Militia leading to his arrest:
“DRUNK ON LEAVING THE MILITIA
John Harry Whittimore, a man of about 40, who left the Militia on Saturday, pleaded guilty to being Drunk and Disorderly on June 23.
Clerk Inspector Tugwell said he found the defendant on the pavement, drunk and unable to move, in St John’s Street. He had 3s 6d in his pocket.
Defendant said he was a native of Bedford, but came now from Manchester. Fined 5s and no costs, or seven days – Paid.”
