Military History

Walter is listed as being killed in action on 13 Oct 1915 during the attack on Hohenzollern Redoubt. The 1st/6th Battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below.

October 13th - Wednesday - Vermelles: The 46th (North Midland) Division having been ordered to capture Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse No. 8, the 137th Brigade carrying out the right attack. The Battalion [1/6th South Staffs Regt] was formed as follows:  A & C Companies in the front line of assembly trenches, and with two companies of the 1/6th North Staffs Regt forming the 3rd line, and were ordered to follow the 2nd line at 200 paces distance and carry R.E. materials, the other two companies B & D with 1/6th North Staffs Regt forming the fourth line and ordered to at once follow the third line and occupy Dump Trench on the frontage allotted to the Brigade.

The attack was covered by a two hour artillery bombardment commencing at 12 noon, gas was used at 1pm, also smoke shells which at times completely hid the points of attack.

Enemy machine guns were heard ranging on our assembly trenches at 1.30pm & 1.45pm which was notified to Brigade Headquarters.

Having received no message that our front line had not been able to advance, and not being able to see their position for smoke, the two companies forming the third line followed the second line and suffered very heavy casualties.

The fourth line then advanced and also suffered from Machine Gun fire from the direction of South Face. All that remained of the 3rd line reached our fire trench between point 87 & 89 to assist the 5th South Staffs Regt to hold that position until this battalion was ordered to retire at noon on the 14th. END

A newspaper report suggests that Walter was killed while trying to cut gaps through the barbed wire to allow his platoon to move forward.