Wilfred Robert Whitson

1909 Wilfred Whitson was gazetted 2^nd Lieutenant in 9^th Battalion Highland Light Infantry on 21^st May.

1914 It is not known where Whitson was serving at the outbreak of war.

1915 At the beginning of October it was reported that Whitson had been wounded but no further details are known.

1916 Captain WR Whitson from the 3/9th Battalion HLI reported for duty at St Omer on 7th March where the 1/9th Battalion was serving as Lines of Communication troops. He seems to have remained with the battalion and presumably took part in the Battle of the Somme and some of the fighting round Arras before he was posted to the 9th Suffolks the following year.

1917 Whitson was attached to 9^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on 1^st August as second in command while the battalion was at Frevillers in training.  The battalion spent much of August to the first half of November in training according to its War Diary.

The 9^th Suffolks took part in the successful opening day of the Battle of Cambrai on 20^th November.  With the assistance of the tanks it took about 150 prisoners and suffered only light casualties.

The war diary for 30^th November 1917 has the following entry “Enemy attacked a post held by C Coy. and post withdrew, but was afterwards re-established.  Enemy attacked British line on our right flank and penetrating to Gouzeaucourt compelled Regimental transport to evacuate their lines.”  Casualties were 1 officer and 4 O.R. killed, 2 officers and 12 O.R. wounded.

The officer killed was Wilfred Whitson.

So far no evidence has come to light that Whitson served with the 2^nd Highland Light Infantry as his family record on their grave stone.