Captain Theodore WHITTINGTON
No. 2 Company, 7th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps

Date of birth: 10th September 1891
Date of death: 19th January 1966

Died aged 74
Unknown
Theodore Whittington was born at Broughton Lodge, Shepherds Hill, Highgate, Hornsey on the 10th of September 1891 the eighth and youngest son of Charles James Whittington, a stock jobber, and Mary (nee Hart) Whittington of “Sandhills”, Betchworth in Surrey.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until April 1905 where he was a member of the Football XI in 1904. The school magazine wrote the following on his football season that year: - "(Back) - Kicks well, but is slow and resolutely declines to use his head."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "....also goes to Marlborough. In the very short time he has been here he has come to the front in the Football and Hockey XI, in the latter of which game he is going to be heard of some day."

He went on to Marlborough College where he was in Preshute House from May 1905 to Easter 1909. He went on to Trinity College Cambridge in 1909.

Following the outbreak of war he applied for a commission in the army on the 31st of August 1914. At a medical examination, which was held at the War Office on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet nine and half inches tall and that he weighed 150lbs. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on the 31st of August 1914 and was posted to the Heavy Transport Depot at Deptford on the same day. He was posted to Lyndhurst on the 22nd of September.

He embarked for France on the 5th of October 1914 where he was attached to No. 2 Company, 7th Divisional Train. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 20th of January 1915 and was a Brigade Supply Officer. He was promoted to Captain on the 1st of August 1915.

He was taken ill and went before a Medical Board at the War Office on the 8th of January 1916 which recorded: -

"He is suffering from nervous breakdown, his main symptom is a fear he is going to develop epilepsy - he has been overseas fifteen months - he has suffered from the same disability on a previous occasion before joining the army."

A Medical Board which sat at the War Hospital, Croydon on the 4th of April 1916 found him to be fit for light duties at home and he was posted to the Supply Reserve Depot at Deptford on the 6th of April.

It was later found that he had suffered from phobias at school and at Cambridge which stemmed from him witnessing the death of a schoolmate when he was fifteen. As a result of this he spent the greater part of 1916 in hospital. He was eventually forced to resign from the army due to ill health, being finally invalided out of the army with the rank of Honorary Captain on the 17th of August 1916. He was awarded the Silver Wound Badge.

He became a Member of the Stock Exchange in 1918 and lived at “Hurstead”, Reigate in Surrey.

He became engaged to Joyce (nee Roberts) in 1922 and they were married at St Mary's Church, Reigate on the 14th of June 1923. They lived at "Holmwood", Danehill, Haywards Heath in Sussex.

He died at Cuckfield Hospital.
Went on to Marlborough College

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