13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 24 January 1919.

Whittaker was a native of Colne, Lancashire.

The Burnley Express and Colne and Nelson Times of 13 November 1918 both reported, COLNE MEDALIST KILLED Information has been received by Mr. Whittaker of 25, Newtown Street, Colne that his son Sergeant Major A. Whittaker, of the Welsh Fusiliers, was killed in action on the 8 October. The deceased was 20 years of age and enlisted on the 31 December 1914, and was drafted to France in December 1916. He was wounded the following February, but recovered and returned to the front. He won the Military Medal on August 3rd this year, and was made sergeant major soon afterwards. Prior to enlisting he was employed at Parrock Shed as a weaver. In a letter to Mrs. Whittaker, an officer of the deceased soldier's company said "Your son displayed the utmost courage and coolness in as much as he rushed a German machine gun which was holding up the company".

It should be noted that despite the fact the report states "Welsh Fusiliers", the London Gazette and Medal Index Card (MIC) for this man clearly show he was in the Royal Fusiliers.

Killed in action on the 8 October 1918. Buried in the Villiers Hill British Cemetery, Villiers-Guislain, France. The cemetery register records he was Company Sergeant Major of No. 4 Company, the son of George Whitaker of 25, Newtown Street, Colne, Lancashire.

It also states Military Medal and bar, but I have only been able to trace the award of a Military Medal in the London Gazette.

Registered paper 68/121/727, schedule number 198666 .