Death announcement of Sir William Whittall has been released by Whittall family, from their Tower House at Moda to all possible relatives and family friends and even official announcement has been made by Moda Church of All Saints. On Sunday the 10th of 1910.
In the very early morning Sir Whittall death had in the house.

The Levant Herald And Eastern Express Gazette was published this sad news under the “Death of Sir William Whittall” title on Saturday, April 16th issue.

It was deep regret to announce the death of Sir J. William Whittall which occurred at The Tower House, Moda, on Sunday. (*)
James William Whittall was the son of James Whittall of Smyrna and was born in 1838. He was educated privately and entered business in Smyrna in 1854.

In 1861 he went to Manchester and joined the firm of J.C. Harter & Co. Eleven years later he established himself in Constantinople and founded what is to - day one of the most important commercial houses and contributed in a wide measure to the development of British commerce and industry in Turkey. The British government conferred the honour of Knighthood upon him in 1898 in recognition of the valuable services he rendered to his country.

Sir William Whittal was not only a clever business man but also a great authority on Turkish Affairs and he was a copions writer in the leading London papers on Oriental questions.

Sir William Whittall was a philanthropist and was always ready to releive the needy and he took a very active part in relief work at the time of the Armenian massacres.

He was keen yachtsman and sportsman and the first discover of the great stag and great fallow deer of Asia Minor.

The death of Sir William Whittall will be deeply mourned in both financial and social circles where he enjoyed the highest esteem and respect.

The immense concourse of mourners at the funeral of the late Sir William Whittall yesterday demonstrated that, besides being the leading figure of the British Colony of Constantinople, the deceased also occupied a most prominent position in the social, financial and industrial circles of this city. It would be practically impossible to give the names of all those present at the ceremony, where the British Colony was of course very largely represented.

The procession started from the residence of the deceased at 1.40 p.m. for the Moda Church of All Saints. Only the members of the family met at the house. The cortège was led by the several Croats in the service of the family, followed by the small grandchildren of the deceased dressed in white holding bunches of white flowers. Then came to coffin covered with the flag of the R.M.Y.C. [Royal Moda Yachting Club] on which was placed a bunch of heliotrope the favourite flower of the late Sir William.

The coffin was carried by sailors of the deceased’s yacht the Abafsa assisted by sailors of M. Gavin Gilchrist’s yacht the Florican and of M. Reginald Whittall’s yacht the Rosalind.

Lady Whittall followed in a mourning coach which in turn was followed by the sons and daughters of the deceased and the other members of his family met at the house. The cortage was led by the several Croats in the service of the family, followed by the grandchildren of the deceased dressed in white holding bunches of white flowers.Then came the coffin covered with the flag of the R.M.Y.C. on which was placed a bunch of heliotrope the favourite flower of the late Sir William.

The procession wended its way slowly to the church which was crowded with members of the British colony of Moda and with relatives and friends of the deceased.

The service was conducted by the Rev. W.S. Laungston-Day M.A. the incumbent of “All Saints”, assisted by the Rev. F.C. Whitehouse M.A. Chaplain of H.M.’s Embassy.

Within the altar rail were Mgr. Constantine, Bishop of Dafnoussia, representing the Bishop of Chalcedon and the Greek Patriarch, a Delegate of the Armenian Patriarch, the Archimandrite Father Ierothsos, an old and valued friend of the Whittall family, an Armenian Priest who represented the Armenian Community of Kadikeui and a Deacon of the Greek Church of Kadikeui.

Three hymns were sung which had been chosen by the late Sir William who had been chosen by the late Sir William who had given precise instructions as to his funeral, which he desired to be simple. He had specially requested that no wreaths or flowers should be sent.

After the short and impressive service, the coffin was placed on a hearse and was followed by the mourners in carriages.

The children of the Greek and Armenian Schools lined the road outside the church.

On the way to the Cemetery the procession was joined by two Rabbis representing the Jewish Community.

All along the Kadikeui main road the shops were closed and a great number of the inhabitants lined the street.

The procession stopped outside the Armenian church of Kadikeui and a priest came forward and recited prayers whilst the bells of that church and of the Greek church of St. Euphemia were being tolled.

On the Haidar Pasha road the procession was joined by a large number of officials of the Anatolian Railway Company.

On arrival at Haidar Pasha the procession was met by the numerous friends who had come from town in a steamer, specially chartered for the occasion.

It is impossible to give an idea as to the number of these present but we ventured to think that never has such a large concourse of people been present at the funeral of any Englishman in Constantinople.

The coffin on being removed from the hearse, at the gate of the Cemetery, was again borne by the sailors.

The pall bearers were the British Ambassador Sir Gerard Lowther, Mr. H.C.A. Eyres H.B.M.’s Consul General, Sir Edwin Pears, Vice Admiral Sir Henry Woods Pasha, Mr. T.J. Maltass and Mr. C.B. Charnaud.

After the service, numerous friends and acquaintances of the deceased came forward to console with Lady Whittall and members of her family.

The death of Sir William Whittall comes just a year after the movement which brought about a change in the reign of this country.

On that occasion Sir William opened the doors of his residence at Moda to a great number of persons who were in danger of losing their lives and many of whom were present at his funeral. With the pluck characteristic of Englishmen Sir William unhesitatingly risked his own life and those of the members of his family in order to protect those who had sought refuge in his home. The strain was, however, too much for a man of his advanced age and he was in failing health ever since that memorable day.

The Late Sir William Whittall

At a Meeting of committees of the Eastern Question Association held on Monday, April 18, the Right Honle.Seyid Emir Ali, C.I.E in the chair, it was unanimously resolved on the motion of Dr. Guy Stephen:- “That this committee expresses its deepest regret at the death of Sir William Whittall, of constantinople, whose sympathetic and untring labours extending over a period of 50 years in furthering humanitarian work throughout the Ottoman Empire have justly gained approbation of all classes and whose high personal chracrer and love of justice have won the veneration of all races and creads in Turkey. (**)

“In recognition this testimony the the worth of their valued friend and colleague the committee desire to offer to Lady Whittall and her familt their respectful and sincere condolences in their grief; and beg to assure them how greatly the passing away of Sir William Whittall will be felt by all who knew the extent of his public- sprited services to his fellow men, markes as they invariably ware, by wisdom, courage and unselfishness.”

At the time of his death Sir William Whittall was the Senior Honorary Secretary of the Eastern Question Association and enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence of Turkish Statesmen. He was in intimate friend of Kiamil Pasha, ex- Grand Vizier, and of Talat Bey the Present Minister of the Interior.