Military History

Walter is listed as being killed in action on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The 1st Battalion Report on Operations for the period 22nd June to July 1st is transcribed below.

Report on Action of Battalion Operations 22^nd June 1916 to 1^st July 1916

The Battalion took up the whole front line for the 4^th Division on the 22^nd June 1916. Four Coys in the front line from Bess Street on the north to Q 4/12 trench on the south. The preliminary bombardment commenced at 5.30am on the 24^th June 1916.

On the night of the 24 June at 10pm Gas was discharged from our front line trenches K 34/4 to 7 and lasted till about 12.30am. The wind became unfavourable shortly after 10.30pm and blew the Gas back over our line, one cylinder being broken by shell fire. The Germans put up a very heavy barrage for about 1 hour and continued an intermittent bombardment till about 1am.

On the night 25^th June 1916 gas was again discharged at 2am till 4.30am. The Gas cloud went over the German line but wind conditions again turned unfavourable and it returned over our line, the enemy bombarding our line heavily again.

On the night 26^th June a raiding party of 2 Officers (Lt J.L. Shute & 2^nd Lt R.W. Gorton) and 20 men at 11.40pm after a bombardment attempted to cross and raid German trenches at K.35.c.3.4 but the Germans put such a heavy barrage up in front of, and on, our front line the party were unable to leave our line and the Raid was abandoned.

On the night 26/27^th June the Battalion was relieved by the 11^th Inf Bde. On the night of 30/1^st Jul the Battalion left Bethancourt at 9.5pm via Mailly Maillet to assembly trenches in the Sunken Road between 3^rd and 5^th Avenues, being in position by 1.15am

At 9.10am 1^st July the Battalion advanced in small column formation from Assembly trenches across the open in support of 2/R.Dublin Fusiliers – 1/R.Irish Fusiliers being on their left.

At 9.15am received an order that the Battalion was to halt and reform at the Tenderloin – arrived and reformed there by 10.00am. The left Coy “C” had advanced to a position just in rear of the front line before the order to halt reached them.

At 1.05pm received an order to make an attempt to reach the German line at Point 27 (k.5.c) as British troops were reported in and about Point 59. I sent a strong patrol under Lieut. R.R. Waters from A Ciy to try and make a lodgment at Point 27, moving across by Watling Street. This patrol got across to about Q.4.b.8½.2 where they were stopped by intense machine gun fire from Beaumont Hamel and had to return, arriving back in our line at 2.15pm. My intention was that if this Patrol could have made a lodgment at Point 27, to send over the remainder of A coy in small parties, with supply of bombs and bomb along the German lines.

At about 1.145pm an order was received to stop any attempt to gain a lodgment at Point 27. I cancelled the order but too late to stop the patrol.

At 2.30pm sent 1 Company up to the front line to hold our original line about Q.4.b.4.5 to full up a gap in the line at this point.

At 7pm had orders to relieve the troops along our front line from Maxim Trench (inclusive) to Q4/12 (inclusive) on the south. 2 Coys in the Front Line, remainder of Battalion in support. The relief being completed by 11.30pm.

The casualties of the Battalion during this period [22^nd June to 1^st July 1916] were 8 Officers and about 250 Other Ranks from shell fire and gas.

G.N.B Forster Lt-Colonel, Comdg 1^st Bn The Royal Warwickshire Regiment.