South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 28615 Walter Thomas ESSEX - 15th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Saturday 24th August 1918 aged 31

walter thomas essex


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Ovillers Military Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1916 ~ Warwick (Eleanor Cross) War Memorial
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted  
Second Battle of the Somme Sept 1914 at Coventry  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Achiet-le-Petit see below ~
     

Circumstances of Death

Walter is listed as being killed in action on 24 Aug 1918. The 15th Battalion war diary entries for the 23rd and 24th August are transcribed below.
 
23rd Aug 1918 - Achiet-le-Petit: 5th Division will attack win conjunction with 37th Div on the lweft and New Zealand Division on the right. Objective Red Dotted Line.
11.00am - 15 R War R with one section of 5th M.G Bn attached moved off from assembly area
2.30pm - 15 R War R with M.G section move to assembly area east of Achiet-le-Petit
4.00pm - Battn HQ in position and established at G.14.c.3.3
7.05pm - Verbal orders, 13th Inf Brigade will carry out an immediate attack with 1st R W Kent Reg on the right, 14 R War R in the centre and 15 R War R on the left. 15 R War R will attack and capture high ground commanding Grevillers. Assembly area G21.a & b. Zero hour 7.30pm
7.50pm - B Coy of the right C on the left carry out the attack, D in support, A in reserve. Coys move forthwith to assembly area in time to close with barrage.
8.45pm - Objective gained and consolidation begun.
List of Casualties 2 officers and 3 other ranks wounded.
 
24th Aug 1918 - Achiet-le-Petit: Situation
15 R War R in touch with 14 R War R on the right. Patrols sent out but no British troops to be found on the left. Defensive flanks formed with D Coy. Line runs approximately G.29.a & C. Bttn HQ G.28 central.
 
List of Casualties - 1 Officer and 28 other ranks wounded, 7 OR killed and 14 OR missing. END

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
25 Aug 1887 at Warwick 18 Sep 1887 at Warwick, St. Mary
   
Parents Names Abode
Richard and Sarah Ann Essex 26 Station Street, Foleshill
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1887 - 3 Lamas Walk, Warwick 1891 - Scholar
1891 - 3 Lamas Walk, Warwick 1901 - Not known
1901 - 28a Saltisford, Warwick (family not Walter) 1902 - Drummer in Royal Warwickshire Regt
1902 - 14 West Rock, Saltisford 1911 - Cycle Wheelmaker
1911 - 26 Station Street, Foleshill 1914 - Worker at the Rover Company
1914 - 26 Station Street, Foleshill  
   
  • Walter is not listed with the family on the 1901 census and we have yet to find him elsewhere on the census.
  • Walter served as a Drummer Boy with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment from 13 Aug 1902 to 2 May 1903. He joined aged 14
  • Warwick War Memorial Project Biography