Military History

Walter is listed as being killed in action on 14th April 1918 and the 4th Battalion war diary entries for the period 13th to 15th April 1918 are transcribed below.

La Creche – 13^th April 1918: Maintained our position S of La Creche. Heavily bombarded all day. Severe fighting all round, no successful advance against the front held by the Battalion. A very anxious time for all, and position extremely dangerous owing to pressure on both flanks. Orders received for a withdrawal to another line by night. From 10^th to 13^th inclusive the 88^th Brigade was attached to the 25^th Division.

Mont de Lille  – 14^th April 1918: The Battalion carried out a successful withdrawal to Mont de Lille, commencing at 12.15am, in conjunction with the troops on our flanks. Took up a position at dawn, holding Mont de Lille, X & Y Coys being on the forward slope and W & Z Coys on the reverse slope, on a frontage of 1200 yards.

3^rd Battalion on our right, 2^nd Hampshire in our left. All our positions very heavily shelled during the whole day. Enemy made several attempts to get forward, but failed. 2 M.G’s and 11 prisoners captured.

Croix de Poperinghe – 15^th April 1918: The Brigade front taken over by 2/5^th Lincolns of 59^th Division at about 2am. Relief complete by 5.30am. Immediately after our Coys had been relieved the enemy managed to push forward into part of our late position with a M.G. which caused great consternation. The Battalion then marched back to Croix de Poperinghe where it went into camp for a few hours rest and a hot meal, during which time we were constantly shelled.

Orders where then suddenly received to move forward into a position of assembly ready (300 yards S of Croix de Poperinghe to make a counter-attack with the remainder of the 88^th Brigade at dawn. Spent a very cold, wet and miserable night in a hop field, digging in. Both flanks were again threatened. Signs of a heavy enemy attack. Enemy artillery and M.G’s very active.