Reading Out Loud
Focused Elements:
You can have these explanations read out loud by clicking on 'Speak Explanation' (access key 'a')
These controls are to provide alternative means of accessing the information on this page. Two main facilities are provided: adjusting the text size and listening to the text on the page.
1) Adjusting Text Size:
You can increase the text size by clicking on 'Larger' (access key '+'), and reduce it by clicking on 'Smaller' (access key '-'). You can reset the size back to its original value by clicking on 'Reset' (access key 'j')
2) Listening to the Text
You can adjust the pitch of the spoken word, the rate or speed of delivery and the volume. You can also choose the voice to use by clicking on the drop-down list. The default voice is whatever is the standard for the computer and browser you are using.
To set your default, please refer to the description in the Accessibility Statement.
There are normally three sections of text on the page that you can listen to: the headings, the main text and a selection. Click on 'Speak Headings to speak the page headings (access key 'l'). Click on 'Speak Main Text' (access key 'q') to listen to the main text.
You can also select an area of text in the page using standard select methods and click on 'Speak Selection' (access key 'w') to read the selection aloud.
You can enable the reading out loud of the element that currently has focus by clicking on 'Start Focus Speaking' (access key 'f') and you can stop this by clicking on 'Stop Focus Speaking' (access key 'd').
You can pause the audio by clicking on 'Pause' (access key 'r') and resume by clicking on 'Resume' (access key 't').
To cancel or stop the audio click on 'Cancel' (access key 'y'). To restart the current audio from the beginning, click on 'Restart' (access key 'k').
To hide the accessibility controls click on 'Hide Panel' (access key 'h')
To hide this explanation click on 'Hide Explanation' (access key 'x')
Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Edward Whitley in WW2
Edward Neil Whitley
Edward was born on 29th July 1918 in Paignton, to parents William Wallace Whitley and Elizabeth Frances Whitehead.
He had 4 elder brothers, William W, Peter P, Herbert H, Claude C and two elder sisters Mary and Dorothea E. When Edward was three years of age the family moved from Paignton to Ashburton. He was educated at Bromsgrove School and Clare College Cambridge.
When Edward left Clare College, where he had been studying Medicine, he worked at The London Hospital during the blitz before qualifying as a Doctor in 1942. On 7th November 1942 he was granted an emergency commission, as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Attached to 5th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
In July 1941 Edward had married Eileen Zender Browne, an American citizen in Ealing London.
In July 1943 he volunteered for airborne services and was posted to 224 Parachute Field Ambulance.
Captain Whitley parachuted into France with 13th Lancashire Parachute Battalion on 6th June 1944 (D-day).
The Regiment was tasked with holding Pegasus Bridge a strategic bridge across the Caen Canal north of the landings on Sword beach.
On Saturday 10th June Edward was gravely wounded by shrapnel from a mortar, whilst providing medical aid to an enemy soldier. He was evacuated to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the UK but on Tuesday 29th August
Edward Neil Whitley died of his wounds.
Edward is commemorated on a plaque in St Peter’s church, Buckland in the Moor, and on a headstone, he shares with his brother Peter in the Churchyard.
Watch the Video of the First Battle Action on D-Day
Edward Whitley in Pictures
Click on an image for a larger view
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments are shown alongside each photograph above.
The information on this page was last modified on September 02 2020 12:33:50.