| Rank | Private |
| Service # | 880501 |
| Unit # | 186th Battalion, Canadian Engineers |
| 24th Reg. | Yes |
| Resident | Harwich Township |
Private Orville R. Whittington trained six months with the 24th Regiment, Home Guards, Blenheim, Ontario.
Private Orville R, Whittington secured his first class certificate in Signalling at London, and continued training with the 186th Battalion until going overseas March 26th, 1917. He trained at Bramshott, for nine months, took a special course in Signalling at Shoreham-by-sea, transferring then to the Signal Company of the Canadian Engineers, Bramshott.
Regimental Number: 880501. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1991-93 Box: 10333-15, Item: 308284, PDF. B10333-SO15. Date of Birth: 2/12/1894. Of Mull, Kent Co., ON., Harwich Twsp. Next of Kin: William Whittington of Mull, Kent Co. A single farmer.
Attestation at Chatham, ON. 7/03/1916. Age: 21 yrs. 3 mths. Height: 5’ 11”, Girth: 36 ½” , Complexion: Medium, Eyes: Blue, Hair: Brown, Weight: 167#, vision 20/20, Hearing 21/21. A scar over right knee. Fit – No disability. for service 6/03/1915 at Chatham, ON. Attestation: 7/03/1916 at Chatham, ON. To 186th Batt. O/S. – England
Unit sailed aboard the S.S. Lapland from Halifax, NS. embarked 25/03/17 Arrived in England 7/04/17 date of service the same as landing.
Service in England:
20/04/17 – 4th Res. From Canada – B’shott, 24/12/17 Cdn. Engineers Operator, 21/01/18 SOS to CETA. 11/12/18 – KinnelI Park, 18/01/19 SOS TO Canada
21/12/18 No.1 D.D. 2/01/19 – Posted to Casualty Coy. 16/01/19 Granted a Subs Allowance from 2/01/19 to 27/01/19.
21/01/18 Transfer to Signals Coy. – CEOD – Seaford. He had charge of a wireless station in England.
Disc. 1/02/1919 Demob. at London, ON
Chatham Daily Planet – 4/01/1919 “ILL-FATED TRAIN”
Sig. Whittington arrived in Chatham on the early CPR. He was on the ill-fated troop train that derailed in Quebec.
He escaped injury the afternoon of Dec. 31st . He played a prominent part in the rescue. A mistake put him in a car of Toronto soldiers and escaped injury.
His brother Sig. George Whittington was still in France.
On a sad note another brother George died of influenza a short time ago while at Queen’s University in Kingston.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | Blenheim News Tribune (08-03-1916), Blenheim News Tribune (03-05-1916), Blenheim News Tribune (18-10-1916), Chatham Daily Planet (04-01-1919), Blenheim Freedom Library, In Khaki - Blenheim Enlistment Book, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 185 60th Anniversary Book 1930-1990, LAC, CDP |
| Height | 5' 11" |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Age | 21 yrs. 3 mths. |
| Complexion | Medium |
| Hair | Brown |
| Race | White |
| Birthplace | Harwich Township |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Last Place of Employment | Father's Farm |
| Average Earnings | $ 2.00 per day |
| Marital Status | Single |
| When Enlisted | March 6th, 1916 |
| Where Enlisted | Chatham, Ontario |
| Next of Kin | Father- William Whittington, Mull. Mother- Mrs. Jennie Whittington. |
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