Z-Whitaker-Gordon Stanley

Gordon Stanley Whitaker 1885 – 1917

Family Details:

George Stanley was born in Wakefield in 1885 the youngest son of Samuel Frederick and Sophia Whitaker nee Blackburn.

In 1891 he was living with his parents and older siblings at 122, York Street, Wakefield. His 44 year old father was living on his own means. His siblings were John 1869, James 1870, Percy 1872, Florence Edith 1876, Wilfred 1879, Frederick Albert 1880, Harold 1882, Dorothy Sophia 1884.

In 1901 he was living with his family at 122, Lower York Street, Wakefield and was a greengrocers apprentice but within the next 10 years he had changed his occupation to become a mattress maker and was a boarder in a tenement block in Leeds.

On the 24th March 1913 he married Annie Laycock of Coronation Terrace, Birstall at St. Saviour’s Church, Brownhill. Alec was born on 18th January 1914.

The family lived at Claremont House, Birstall. He was employed by Messrs. W. Rhodes Ltd. bedding and flock manufacturers, Carlton Cross Mills, Leeds.

Service Details:

Gordon enlisted in September 1916 and went to France in December 1916.The 16th Battalion was in 93rd Brigade, 31st Division.

In 1917 they took part in operations on the Ancre (11th January -13th March). The Battle of Arras  (9th April- 16th May), which is where Gordon would have been killed. He was killed before the division lost many men in the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe which took place 3/4th May and over 6,000 men were killed for very little gain.

His wife received official confirmation of his death on Monday, 14th May 1917.

His brother Wilfred was killed on 16th January 1916 in Flanders.

George Stanley was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Researched by
Members of Batley History Group