464th Battery, 179th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Hardly any documentary evidence has survived of Joseph’s time in Army service and he would appear to be one of the victims of the ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic of 1917-1919.
Joseph George Whatcott was born in Chipping Campden in the latter half of 1896 and was one of nine children, born between 1895 and 1910, to George (1864-1947) and his wife Sarah Ann (née Williams; 1871-1946).
At the time of the 1901 Census the family was living at Campden Ashes, Chipping Campden and George was a cowman on a farm. He was still working on a farm, as carter, at the time of the 1911 Census. By then Joseph had left education and was working on a farm as a boy Carter. The family is down as living at Hangman’s Hull, Chipping Campden.
It is now known when Joseph joined the Army and his Medal Rolls Index Card does not state the date he first went abroad. He evidently joined the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) and was posted to 464th Battery, 179th Brigade. Examination of Soldiers Died in the Great War indicates that the RFA did not have any casualties with numbers beginning with 226 until August 1917. Allowing for training in the UK it would appear likely that Joseph was conscripted in late 1916 or early 1917. His entry in the Register of Soldiers Effects, (RSE) held at the National Army Museum, notes that he was due a gratuity of £9. On the basis that he qualified for £3 for every period of 12 months or part thereof, then the above conscription date appears viable.
The 179th Brigade was formed at Lee Green, London in 1915 and was originally part of 39 Division. In November 1916 it was broken up and re-formed with 464th Battery being one of the four constituent parts. The brigade became an Army Field Artillery Brigade on the Western Front in May 1917: it was not attached top any particular division but was part of a general artillery pool which assisted divisions where necessary.
The RSE states that he died ‘at home during demobilisation’ and a recently released Pension Record Card gives the cause of death as ‘influenza and bronchial pneumonia.’ Almost certainly he died a victim of the ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic, probably at home, which at the time was Westington in Chipping Campden. Later his parents lived at 13 Council Houses, Catbrook in the town.
Gunner Joseph George Whatcott was 22 years of age when he died, on 17 February 1919. He was unmarried. He was buried in the churchyard of St James, Chipping Campden, where a standard CWGC headstone marks his grave. He is commemorated on the Chipping Campden War Memorial.
Researched by Graham Adams 14 September 2020