The sons of Joseph and Eliza the family home was Wickets Beer Farm. He married Eva Andrews in 1943.
His service record shows he was 5 foot 8 inches tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a ruddy complexion.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Coker Patrol | Patrol member | 05 Jul 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Farmer
His Army service records states that he served in the 203rd Battalion, Somerset Home Guard.
28 April 1943 - Enlisted at Taunton, in the General Service Corps. Attested, Private, 22 Primary Training Centre, deferred embodiment,
due to join 3 June 1943
29 April 1943 - Relegated to Class W (T) Territorial Army reserve
3 June 1943 - Posted, and joined 22 Primary Training Centre, Derby.
15 July 1943 - Transferred to REME
15 July 1943 - 14 Technical training centre, REME
3 June 1943 to 4 July 1944 - Home
5 July 1944 to 15 Feb 1945 - North West Europe
28 Sept 1944 - 831 Heavy recovery section
15 Feb 1945 - Died in battle accident
Alan, Arthur and Austin were brothers. Alan Whetham left the Auxiliary Units 3rd June 1943 and joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 831 Heavy Recovery Section as a Driver in June 1943. He was killed in action in February 1945 after a winch pulley block broke during a winching operation. Aged only 24 and the father of a 2 week old baby he is buried at Hasselt Cemetery in Belgium.
He was posthumously awarded 1939 – 45 Star, 1939 – 45 War medal and France and Germany star in 1949
TNA ref WO199/3390 and WO199/3391
1939 Register
Rachel Apsey, Alan Whetham, Colin Whetham and Stan Turner (relation to the Whethams)
Service Record via Chris Perry