South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | Marton (St. Espirit) Churchyard |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 13 Jul 1915 in France | ~ | Marton |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other Service History |
| Died of Tuberculosis | 10 Dec 1915 at Southam | 11 Dec 1915 - Transferred to Army Reserve |
| 7 Jul 1916 - mobilised at Plymouth | ||
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Marton | 3rd Depot Brigade | |
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
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A newspaper article in the Leamington Courier on 19th March 1919 reports on Walter's death as follows: "Walter Smallwood who died the following day (11 Mar 1919) was postman of the village and joining up under the war was sent out with the Warwicks to Salonkia. Being invalided home his hospital ship was torpedoed in the Mediterranean and Smallwood battled for his life in the water for nearly two hours. Of a naturally delicate constitution he never recovered from the exposure and although sent to Bramcote Consumptive Hospital on his return and discharged therefrom, he only returned home to Marton to die. Two other brothers have passed away from the disease". From the above description we believe that Walter was aboard the HMHS Dover Castle that was torpedoed on the 26th May 1917 while 50 miles (80 km) north of Bône on passage from Malta to Gibraltar with 632 patients on board, including 29 officers. All of the patients were saved and most transferred to HMS Cameleon. Walter's service record shows that on 25 June 1917 he was at Tooting Military Hospital in London and a doctors report states that he contracted Tuberculosis in March 1917 as a result of exposure and hardship while serving in Salonika. On 16 Jul 1917 Walter was discharged from the Army as being medically unfit to serve and given a Silver Badge. After a spell at Bramcote Sanatorium he died at home in Marton on 11 Mar 1919. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jan Qtr 1892 at Grandborough | 14 Feb 1892 at Grandborough |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Arthur and Emma Smallwood | Both deceased of Marton |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Marton Church School | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1892 - Grandborough | 1910 - Postman (Post Office records) |
| 1901 - Marton | 1911 - Boot repairer (census) |
| 1911 - New Chapel, Marton | 1915 - Postman and Boot Repairer (Army Service Record) |
| 1915 - Marton | |
- Brother of George Smallwood who also died of Tuberculosis caught on active service
- Brother of Owen Smallwood who served and survived
- Our thanks to Marton Local History Group for the photograph and other help.
