Street name could pay tribute to First World War soldier

A Whittington street could be named in tribute to a soldier from the village who was killed in action during the early months of the First World War.

Members of Whittington Parish Council supported a suggestion by their vice-chairman that the street in Whittington Walk be named after Lieutenant Herbert James Graham-Gilmour.

Serving with the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, Lt Graham-Gilmour died during the Battle of the Aisne in September, 1914, just two months after the war began.

Aged 31, he was one of two platoon commanders, together with many of their men, killed on the first of three days of continuous fighting.

Lt Graham-Gilmour was the eldest son of Ethel Blanche Price-Hughes (formerly Gilmour), of Red Hill and the late James Graham Gilmour of Whittington Lodge.

He is commemorated in Whittington’s St Philip and St James Church and St Martin’s Church in London Road, as well as Worcester Cathedral’s cloister windows and the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial in France.

Lt Graham-Gilmour had earlier served at the depot at Norton Barracks and  in South Africa during the Boer War.

He had been a keen sportsman, riding in point-to-point meetings and played cricket for the Worcestershire Regiment, Worcestershire Gentlemen and St John’s Cricket Club.

Whittington Parish Council had been asked by Wychavon District Council to submit names for consideration for streets in Whittington Walk.

The parish council’s vice-chairman, Steve Brooker, suggested naming it after Lt Graham-Gilmour, saying: “I just thought it would be nice to have a Whittington lad who was killed in the First World War remembered in that way.”

Parish councillor Susan MacLeod backed his proposal, describing it as “quite poignant”.

Members agreed to forward Lt Graham-Gilmour’s name to the district council.