2012/005

2007/006

This collection mainly consists of items collected by Andrew Finlay Whitsitt. He compiled 3 albums of photographs, and kept many wallets of loose photographs. Included in these are many family shots mostly taken in Ireland. 2 of the albums relate to A F Whitsitt's time in India and record his hunting expeditions, also his time serving as part of the British Army's Tanks Corp. He was involved in the tank trials which took place in Northern India in 1935. These trials tested the tanks and armoured cars over obstacle courses and through water. The collection also includes a notebook containing photographs relating to A F Whitsitt's brother, that is J R Whitsitt (Jack). He joined the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at the outbreak of WW1 and was killed in action in 1915. In addition there are 2 printed items - the monthly journal of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers recording Jack Whitsitt's death and 'The War In Maps' showing maps from the period 1914-1941.

1 box

Open

None

Collection

The Whitsitt family consisted of father Finlay who was born in 1865, his wife Nana born 1867 (nee Anna Elizabeth Reilly), and their 3 sons Jack born c.1891 (John Reginald referred to as J R Whitsitt), Finlay born 1898 (Andrew Finlay referred to as A F Whitsitt), and Leslie born 1901 (Leslie Montgomery). The boys grew up in their family home in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. J R Whitsitt was educated at the Methodist College in Belfast. He reached prominence as a rugby footballer, playing for Collegians F.C, which became the modern-day Belfast Harlequins. He then joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, becoming a Lieutenant by 1914. He tragically died in 1915, aged 24, from wounds sustained during the Dardanelles campaign, and is buried at the Helles Memoria Cemetery in Gallipoli. A F Whitsitt also joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a Second Lieutenant, attached to the Machine Gun Corps. He became a Lieutenant by 1918. Some units from the Machine Gun Corps were then absorbed into the Tank Corps. A F Whitsitt became a member of the 9th Armoured Car Company, part of the Tank Corps. The company was active in Northern India (now Pakistan) from 1921–1939, and he was there for a significant part of this, from 1926–1935. He was involved with tank trials both in the UK and in India. These consisted of off-road obstacle trials and water faring trials. He married his wife Noreen (Grace Noreen Whitsitt) in 1933, and she travelled with him between India and Ireland. He was also a keen hunter and fisherman, and took part in hunting and fishing expeditions in India and Ireland. A F Whitsitt died on 16 April 1961 at Westminster Hospital. The third son, Leslie Montgomery Whitsitt, does not appear much in the collection. He lived most of his life in London and died 11 July 1961 at St Pancras Hospital.