Regiment: Royal Sussex, 8th Battalion, 18th Division
Service No: G/9181
Date & place of birth: 18 September 1885, Petworth
Date & place of death: 20 July 1917 (aged 31), Belgium
Some records have spelled Lance Corporal Whitington’s name in the more usual fashion with 2 t’s and have therefore confused his burial with another Arthur Whittington.
Family background
Arthur Whitington was born and raised in Petworth, the son of Edwin and Jane Whitington. Edwin is recorded as being a carpenter and later as being an upholsterer on the “repairing staff” at Petworth House. Their other children were Edwin Hazell, Annie, William, Edith, Charles and Minnie; only Minnie was younger than Arthur. By 1911 Arthur was still living with his parents in Egremont Terrace, Egremont Row. He had presumably shown some academic ability as he was working as a solicitor’s clerk.
Military service
Lance Corporal Whitington enlisted in Petworth. His professional position may have contributed to his promotion to Lance Corporal. His battalion went to France in July 1915. In 1917 it took part in the Third Battle of the Scarpe, the battles of Pilkem Ridge and Langemarck and the First and Second Battles of Passchendaele.
Death and commemoration
Lance Corporal Arthur Whitington was killed in action on 20 July 1917 on the Western Front aged 31. He is buried in the Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium.