Collection GB 0064 WHR - Whittaker, Captain Jack Kilner, RNVR (1892-1979)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 WHR

Title

Whittaker, Captain Jack Kilner, RNVR (1892-1979)

Date(s)

  • [1914-1919] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1 box, 5 volumes.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Jack Kilner Whittaker enlisted in the London Division of thr RNVR in 1912, subsequently being mobilised at the outbreak of the First World War. His first posting was to HMS KENT, and almost immediately he saw action at the Battle of the Falklands. During this action, the KENT sunk the German Light Cruiser NURNBERG. Three months later, the KENT and HMS GLASGOW, tracked down and sunk the DRESDEN, the only German vessel to escape from the Battle of the Falklands. In 1917, after three years in the KENT, Whittaker was promoted to Temporary Sub-Lieutenant, and attended HMS EXCELLENT for gunnery training. He then served in HMS MINDFUL and HMS WOLSEY, before resigning from the RNVR in 1919 with the rank of Lieutenant. Whittaker re-joined the RNVR in 1939, serving on HMS LYNX, HMS HAMPTON, HMS SPARTIATE and HMS SOUTHERN PRINCE. He was promoted to Temporary Acting Lieutenant-Commander in 1940, and was mentioned in Despatches in 1941, before being appointed to the Inter-Service RDF Board in 1942. Whittaker was then posted to the Admiralty Signal Department for a short time, before getting transferred to the escort carrier HMS VINDEX for Russian convoy duty. He was then posted to HMS DRAKE in 1945, before being made Executive Officer of HMS BLACKCAP at Royal Naval Air Station, Stretton. Whittaker was released from service on 21st December, 1945.

Archival history

GB 0064 WHR [1914-1919] Collection 1 box, 5 volumes. Whittaker , Jack Kilner , 1892-1979 , Captain RNVR

Jack Kilner Whittaker enlisted in the London Division of thr RNVR in 1912, subsequently being mobilised at the outbreak of the First World War. His first posting was to HMS KENT, and almost immediately he saw action at the Battle of the Falklands. During this action, the KENT sunk the German Light Cruiser NURNBERG. Three months later, the KENT and HMS GLASGOW, tracked down and sunk the DRESDEN, the only German vessel to escape from the Battle of the Falklands. In 1917, after three years in the KENT, Whittaker was promoted to Temporary Sub-Lieutenant, and attended HMS EXCELLENT for gunnery training. He then served in HMS MINDFUL and HMS WOLSEY, before resigning from the RNVR in 1919 with the rank of Lieutenant. Whittaker re-joined the RNVR in 1939, serving on HMS LYNX, HMS HAMPTON, HMS SPARTIATE and HMS SOUTHERN PRINCE. He was promoted to Temporary Acting Lieutenant-Commander in 1940, and was mentioned in Despatches in 1941, before being appointed to the Inter-Service RDF Board in 1942. Whittaker was then posted to the Admiralty Signal Department for a short time, before getting transferred to the escort carrier HMS VINDEX for Russian convoy duty. He was then posted to HMS DRAKE in 1945, before being made Executive Officer of HMS BLACKCAP at Royal Naval Air Station, Stretton. Whittaker was released from service on 21st December, 1945.

The papers were presented to the National Maritime Museum in 1979 by Mrs Whittaker.

Papers of Jack Kilner Whittaker. They contain service papers, logs, charts, photographs and printed material. Most of the collection deals with Whittakers First World War service, especially the Battle of the Falklands, with some items covering the Second World War.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

English

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Edited by Sarah Drewery, Oct 2011.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

2011-04-19 Naval battles World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events) World wars (events) World War One (1914-1918) Battles Whittaker , Jack Kilner , 1892-1979 , Captain RNVR Royal Navy

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were presented to the National Maritime Museum in 1979 by Mrs Whittaker.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Jack Kilner Whittaker. They contain service papers, logs, charts, photographs and printed material. Most of the collection deals with Whittakers First World War service, especially the Battle of the Falklands, with some items covering the Second World War.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Conditions governing reproduction

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

National Maritime Museum

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area