32197 C.S.M. John Seymour Whitham, MSM.
R.A.M.C. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in the London Gazette of 17 June 1918. Whitham was a native of Burnley, Lancashire.
The MSM was awarded for his service at the 21st Casualty Clearing Station, Corbie, Somme, France 1916 - 1918.
The medals of 1295 (later 32197) Sergeant Major John Seymour Whitham, St. John's Ambulance Brigade (Boer War 1900) later Royal Army Medical Corps.
The St. John's Ambulance Brigade Boer War Medal is named "1295. SERGT. J. SEYMOUR, BURNLEY DIV."
John Seymour Whitham was born at Manchester, Lancashire
on the 4 October 1872. Although born in Manchester his family originated from
Burnley and returned there circa 1875. On the 1891 census he is described as
being a cotton weaver and loom overlooker on his enlistment papers of 1914.
He served in the Boer War 1900 with the Burnley Division of the St. John's Ambulance
Brigade. He enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 11 September 1914
at Burnley, Lancashire and was promoted corporal in that corps on the same day.
Further promotions quickly followed; Sergeant 20 February 1915; S/Sergeant 13
March 1915; Quartermaster Sergeant 22 November 1916 and finally Sergeant Major
on the 28 February 1916. He served overseas from March 1915 - April 1916 at
the 18th General Hospital, France, April 1916 - July 1916 at the 55th Field
Ambulance, 18th Division, France and finally from July 1916 until his discharge
on the 2 September 1919 he was employed at the 21st Casualty Clearing Station,
Corbie, France. He died circa February 1954 at Lancaster, Lancashire, aged 81.