Military History

Walter is listed as being killed in action on 25th August 1918. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 23rd to 26th August are transcribed below along with links to the two part Report on Operations of the 23rd & 24th.

Douchy – 23.8.1918: We heard a heavy bombardment start at about 4 o’clock this morning. At 6am we moved off by platoons passed the S end of Douchy, over the sunken road, then across the Ayette-Ablainzevelle Road, past the S side of the old aerodrome on the Courcelles Road and thence to our assembly positions between Foch Trench and Haig Trench on what was called the Blue Line.

We arrived there about 7.30am. See special report on operations (attached) [Click for Part 1 and here for Part 2]

Ervillers – 24.8.1918: See special report [links above]. On being relieved by troops of the 62^nd Division we assembled what was left of the Bn on the open ground just N of the old aerodrome W of Moyburn trench. Here we made bivouacs with such materials as we could salvage in the locality.

2^nd Lt E.A. Wilson; 2^nd Lt T.V. Bradbury and 2^nd Lt C Haswell joined the Bn here.

Ayette – 25.8.1918: Brigadier, Brigade Major, GSO.1 and GSO.3 called on us this morning and discussed the recent operations. CO & Capt Mace MC rode round the S side of Ayette this evening and called on the 13^th Kings. Capt W.J.H. Howard and Sgt Maj Adams both of the 1^st Bn were serving with them.

We had a battalion parade and checked our rolls and reported our casualties. These were as follows:

Killed: Lt’s W J A Pratt and R T Reese. NCO’s and men 21
Wounded: Capt R Ward, Capt R E Head; Lt’s Harradine & Harrison; 2^nd Lt’s Murphy, Bithrey, Gribbin, Walker MC, Balaban DCM, Watson, Wilson MM, Tompkins, Erskine & Symons. NOC’s and men 233
Missing: NCO’s and men 17

Ayette – 26.8.1918: Coys start training new Lewis Gunners, Divl Commander called and said he was delighted with the work we had done in the line.