WHITAKER, James

Known as: 
Jimmie
Rank: 
Corporal
Unit / Base: 
46RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
CH/X 102296
Born: 
Wednesday, March 9, 1921
Birthplace: 
Burnley, Lancashire
Died : 
Sunday, June 11, 1944
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
23
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Cpl James Whitaker 46RM Commando
Corporal James Whitaker, 'S' troop, died during operations at Rots and Le Hamel, France. [1][2].
 
Sgt. Harry Hewitt of 'S' troop was at his side when Cpl. Whitaker died and gave this account. "I joined the 9th Battalion Royal Marines from the police force, PC116 Oxfordshire Constabulary, and done my basic training and Commando training at Achnacarry together with Jimmie Whitaker. We have become inseparable  friends so it is a simple matter during our later training on the Isle of Wight that we formed the Commando partnership of 'Me and My Pal'. We have entered the village of Le Hamel and are flushing Germans out of the houses. We chase a couple of them down a very narrow lane and they go through a gap in a stone wall. Jimmie seems in a great hurry to get there first before me and as he goes through he receives a blast from a machine-gun. Some said later it was a sniper. It happens near the square where the 46RMC memorial stands today."  [3]
 
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[1a] Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/138.
[2] The Story of 46 Commando Royal Marines by Capt Johnson RM.
[3]  Jeff Hewitt, son of Sgt Harry Hewitt.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Photo of grave in Gallery: 
Yes

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