Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Walter’s parents, Alfred and Frederica (nee Thurley), were from the Cambridge area, however, Walter was born in Aldershot, Hampshire on 28 November 1897, and was their only son.

By 1901, the family had moved back to Cambridge and were living at Cormack House, Romsey Road, Cambridge and in 1911 at 2 Romsey Road, Romsey Town, Cambridge.  Alfred was a blacksmith working for the Great Eastern Railway.  Walter’s mother died (aged 41) in 1912, and Alfred re-married in 1913 to Edith E Green.  On 12 September 1913,  Alfred (45), Edith (30) and Walter (16) an apprentice departed for Brisbane, Australia from London on Orient Line “SS Otranto”.

Walter joined the Australian Imperial Force on 1 July 1916, aged 18 years 7 months, having previously served for twelve months with the Citizen Military Forces 8^th Infantry.  He gave is home address as “Iola”, Charles Street, Milton, Queensland and his occupation as porter.

He embarked Melbourne, Victoria on 6 December 1916, on HMAT “Orsova”, disembarking at Plymouth on 17 February 1917.  He spent the next two months (apart from one spell in hospital) undergoing machine gun training at Grantham.  He was at the tea room on Peterborough East Station and signed the visitors’ book on 5 April 1917, most likely on his way to or from Grantham.  He proceeded overseas to France (Folkestone to Camiers) on 24 April 1917, and was taken on strength with the 11th Machine Gun Company on 10 May 1917.  He was killed in action in Belgium on 4 October 1917, aged 19 years and 10 months.  He is commemorated on Panel 31 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

He was awarded the 14/15 Star, British War and Allied Victory Medals, Memorial Plaque and Scroll.

Information from ANZAC National Archives of Australia -received with kind permission and grateful thanks.

WW1 Pictorial Honour Roll of Queenslanders (http://qld.ww1anzac.com/pa.html)