The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W H Walter

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Photograph by "Claude Laignel"

Private William Hayward WALTER, G/2675, 6th  Battalion  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died of wounds, (bomb accident**), 56th Field Ambulance, Flanders France, 4th May 1916, age 34.

1883, born Gravesend, Kent, son of William Hayward & Emily Mary Walter, of Gravesend, Kent.

24th April 1904, Parish Church, Milton, Gravesend, Kent, married Celia Kate Williams, 29 Terrace Street, Gravesend, Kent / 29, La Belle Alliance Square, East Cliff, Ramsgate, Kent.

Children - William Hayward Walter, born October 1904, Gravesend, Kent; January 1905, died age 2 months, 35 Bentley Street, Gravesend, Kent; Charles Sidney Walter, born 5th April 1907, Gravesend, Kent.

1911 Census - 29 Terrace Street, Gravesend, Kent - William H Walter, head, age 29, married, carman, worker, born Gravesend, Kent; Celia Kate Walter, wife, age 25, married 7 years, 2 children, 1 still alive,  born Gravesend, Kent; Charles S Walter, son, age 4,  born Gravesend, Kent.

Enlisted Gravesend, Kent, age 31 years & 334 days, height 5ft 3¼ inches, weight 133lbs, dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, tattoo BFA. Formerly horse driver.

Home, 11th September 1914 to 14th June 1915; BEF, 15th June 1915 to 4th May 1916.

11th September 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th September 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th October 1914, posted 9th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 9th November 1914, Chatham, absent from Tattoo till 10.30pm 10th November, 5 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 2 days pay; 15th November 1914, Chatham, absent from Church Parade, 7 days confined to Barracks; 21st November 1914, Chatham, not shaven on Parade, 2 days confined to Barracks; 27th November 1914, Chatham, absent from 9.30pm till reporting to Sergt **** at 4.30pm 28th November, 5 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 2 days pay; 24th December 1914, Chatham,  absent from 9.30pm  till 8.00am 31st December 1914, forfeits 8 days pay and deprived of 6 days pay by Commanding Officer; 8th January 1915, absent from 9.30pm until 8.00am 12th inst, deprived of 4 days pay, forfeits 5 days pay; 22nd January 1915, absent from 9.30pm until 6.00pm 30th inst, deprived of 8 days pay, forfeits 9 days pay; 13th February 1915, Chatham, absent from 9.30pm till 8.300am 15th inst, 7 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 3 days pay; 20th March 1915, Chatham, absent from 9.30pm till 6.00pm 22nd March, 5 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 3 days pay; 27th March 1915, Chatham, absent from 9.30pm till 8.00am 29th March, 4 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 3 days pay;  1st April 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st April 1915, deprived of 8 days pay for absence; 1st May 1915, Chatham, when on active service absent from Tattoo until Tattoo 2nd inst, deprived 12 days pay, 168 hours detention, forfeits 2 days pay; 28th May 1915, Fort Darland, when on active service, absent off the 8.15pm Parade, breaking out of camp whilst a soldier  under arrest, absent from Tattoo 29th inst, until 9.45pm the 30th inst, 28 days Field Punishment No.2. forfeits 2 days pay; 15th June 1915, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 25th June 1915, joined Battalion, In the Field; 2nd May 1916, wounded, chest, arm, hand & face lacerated, grenade wounds severe. May render him unfit for further service.

5th June 1916, Probate - William Hayward Walter, of 29 Terrace Street, Gravesend, Kent, Private Royal West Kent Regiment, died 4th May 1916, in France. Probate London 15th June to Alfred Edwin Enfield J.P. Effects £784 18s.

1917 September, Gravesend Registration District, Celia K Walter, married Walter J Sabine.

Buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, I. F. 40., Pas de Calais, France.

** Bomb Accident

2nd May 1916, report - Lieutenant Friend was instructing one of the bombers in firing Mills grenades from a cup. Two were fired successfully, the third one exploded within a foot of leaving the cup, wounded Lieutenant Friend and nine men who were standing in the trench, from which the grenade was fired. The grenade had been correctly placed in the cup, and the explosion can only be due to a defective fuse. Witnesses : No.567 Corporal H Thomas, 2nd Lieut. G W Hall.

21st July 1916, report  from Captain Carson, RAMC, Medical Officer In Charge, 6th R W Kents - "This man was brought to my Dressing Station at Allouagne on 2nd May 1916. He was suffering from severe wounds which were caused (as reported to me) by a Bomb Accident. He was immediately transferred to the 26th Field Ambulance.