Lionel Whitehead was born on the 2nd of March 1926 in Rotherham, Yorkshire.

Before the War he was an erector at Yorkshire Tar Distillers Ltd.

1st KOSB War Diary for the date of his death

During the morning there was intermittent shelling of the town and several O.Rs were wounded.

At 1020 hrs the enemy launched a counter attack down the line of the rly from 472793 and from 467784 simultaneously on "D" Coy in posn in the sta area.

Fd Arty followed by Med Arty dispersed the attack from the WEST before it had time to form up properly.

The attack down the rly was shelled by Fd Arty and smoke was fired at fairly close range.

3 P.W. captured came from 7/2/115 P.G.R. and from their statements, enemy casualties were at least 1 Offr ORs killed and 3 wounded.

The remainder of the enemy withdrew in some confusion and at great speed, harassed by Fd and Med Arty fire.

During the afternoon the town was bombed by Spitfires as far as we could see, killing 1 and wounding 4 ORs and writing off 1 Carrier.

During the afternoon "C" Coy cleared the houses in the area 480788, inflicting several casualties on the enemy.