South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
|
|
|
Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | Mendinghem Military Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| After 1 Oct 1916 in France | ~ | Dunchurch |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | |
| Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) | After 24 Sep 1916 in Rugby | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| 64th CCS at Mendinghem | ~ | ~ |
Circumstances of Death
|
Walter is listed as dying of wounds on 23 Sep 1917 at the 64th Casualty Clearing Station in Mendinghem. The 34th Brigade makes no mention of casualties between the 20th and 26th September. It does mention that 9 men were wounded in action between the 16th and 18th September. A very brief newspaper report about Walter's death does not mention when he was wounded. The war diary for the period 16th to 19th is transcribed below but it should be used with caution as we cannot be certain when Walter was wounded. 16th Sep 1917: Batteries moved forward between 2 & 4am, exceptions one 18 pd of the 70th [Battery] & one How of the 56th, both left behind at old position due to the breaking of poles. Cover at new positions good for personnel & positions generally well camouflaged, but absolutely no cover for flashes. At 4am information received from left group that from information received a hostile attack was expected all along our front. Fortunately this expected attack only developed further north. 17th Sep 1917: Remained guns taken forward in the early hours & day spent on registering. Orders received re pending battle & Brigade ordered to get 1,500 rounds per 18pr [18 pounder] and 1,000 per howitzer at forward positions. This meant all ranks of the Brigade including B.A.C working night and day. Major C. Barry left Bgde through ill health and command of C/34 again taken over by Capt. Whitehouse. Lt Col C.F.P. Parry DSO returned from convalescent leave in the UK. Received new S.O.S lines, the Brigade being superimposed on the Group Zone. 18th Sep 1917: Adjutant, Capt. B. Miles returned from leave to the UK. From 16th to 18th the Brigade suffered nine casualties all wounded with the exception of Sgt Furseman of the B.A.C who was killed. (NOTE: The 77th H[eavy] Brigade RFA was one of the units comprising the left group Commanded by Col Fleming which covered the left half of the 51st Divisional front. NB: The subsequent pages of the war diary [Ref WO 95/385/2] can be ordered, for free as of 16 Oct 2024, from the National Archives by clicking here. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Apr Qtr 1890 in Grandborough, Warwickshire | 27 Apr 1890 in Grandborough |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| James and Sarah Jane Russell | Toft Farm, Dunchurch |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1890 - Grandborough | 1901 - School age |
| 1891 - Village, Grandborough | 1911 - Farmers son working on farm |
| 1901 - Grandborough | |
| 1911 - Toft Farm, Dunchurch | |
| 1915 - Toft Farm, Dunchurch | |
- Dunchurch St. Peter records show that Banns were read on the 2nd, 9th & 16th Apr 1916 for a marriage between Walter and
Helen Christine Proctor but it appears that they were never actually married.