Charles Witherwick (1896-1967)
Man from Hull served with 2nd DLI won the DCM in the '100 Days Offensive'
Charles Witherwick, the son of Alfred and Jane Witherwick, was born in Hull in 1896. He had two brothers and a sister and enlisted in the 13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment at the beginning of the war. He was later transferred to the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and landed in Egypt on 29 December 1915. By 1918, he was in France and had been promoted to lance-sergeant in the 2nd Battalion DLI. He won the Distinguished Conduct Medal during the ‘100 Days Offensive’. After demobilisation he moved back to Hull and some time between 1924 and 1929 he married Harriett Annie Richardson and moved to Skipton. In 1939 they were back living in Hull.
His award if the DCM was gazetted on 10 January 1920 and the citation reads:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations of 19th-20th September, 1918, at Holnon. He took charge of the advanced posts for 48 hours after his platoon officer had become a casualty, visiting them continually and encouraging the men under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. On three occasions the posts were shelled out, but he immediately re-organised them in their positions, setting a fine example throughout”.
International Encyclopedia of the First World War, Hundred Days Offensive:
https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/hundred_days_offensive
Birth date: 5-Jan-1896
Death date: 1967
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 16 Freehold Terrace, Sculcoates, Hull, Yorkshire (1901 census)
8 Alexandra Terrace, Woodhouse Street, Hull, Yorkshire (1911 census & West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962)
274 James Reckitt Avenue, Hull, Yorkshire (West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962 & 1939 Register)
Employment: Packing Room boy at Reckitts (1911 census)
Packer in Reckitt’s Factory (1939 Register)
Family: Father: Alfred Witherwick
Mother: Jane Witherwick (nee Wharam)
Siblings: Edward, Alfred & Gertrude Witherwick
Wife: Harriett Annie Witherwick (nee Richardson)
Military service:
13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
Regimental number: 1028
Private
2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Regimental number: 79318
Lance-Sergeant
Medal(s): Distinguished Conduct Medal
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
