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Regiment: Royal Engineers.
Died: 20 January 1916 aged 27 in Belgium. Died of wounds at Hooge.
Cemetery: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery II A 26
Son of Thomas and Frances Whitfield, of 56A, Cambridge Rd., Southport. Born in 1889 at Stoke Manor, Salop.
Middle IV—Mathematical VI. House Prefect.
Mathematical Exhibitioner, Queens' College, Cambridge; B.A. (Second Class Mechanical Sciences Tripos) 1911.
Assistant Superintendent Engineer 1912; Physics Lecturer at St. John's College, Agra, 1913; R.E. Special Reserve 1911.
Great War, mobilised 1914. 104th Field Coy. Royal Engineers.
'He went to France in September 1915, and was killed on January 20th. A brother officer writes of him: "He has never swerved in unfaltering loyalty to his superiors, devotion to duty, and courage and cheerfulness under most trying circumstances." (Malvernian, Mar 1916).
The following is from the Unit War Diary:
'Ypres.
17.1.16. Portion of Oxford St destroyed by shell fire; Pioneers repaired it during night. Fish St cut through but not yet rivetted.
18.1.16. Working parties. No 2 section rivetted Fish St with frames, but it shall require sand bagging on each side. Snipers active especially in front of Stables.
19.1.16. Regret following Casualties: Lieut J B Whitfield, Sapper Hazell & Pioneer Sullivan. The two men died from their wounds the same evening. Lt Whitfield was taken to Menin Road dressing station & sent on immediately by motor ambulance to Vlamertinghe & thence to No 10 Casualty Clearing Station near Poperinghe.
20.1.16. Lt J. B. Whitfield died of his wounds at 5.30am.'
There is a memorial window to him and his brother in the Church of St. Luke's, Hodnet.Memorial window
Service record: WO 372/21/136056
Unit War Diary:WO 95/2199/2