Military History

Walter is listed as being killed in action on 27th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. The 5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 26th to 28th April 1917 along with an obiturary in Stratford Herald are transcribed below.

Trenches north of Monchy-le-Preux - 26 & 27th April 1917: Battalion held this line under continuous heavy shell fire. Casualties not severe.

Trenches north of Monchy-le-Preux - 28 April 1917: - 35^th Bde received orders to capture Bayonet Trench, that part of Rifle trench still occupied by the enemy and push out into a line of outposts in advance of new line. Capture of Bayonet and Rifle trenches allotted to 5^th R Berks Regt on left, 78^th Norfork on right, 7^th Suffolk being responsible for capturing 2^nd objective, 9^th Essex being in Brigade Reserve. Dividing line between the 5^th Bn and 7 Norfolk I.31.a.0.6, I.31.a.6.7, I.26.c.1.8.

The battalion attacked at 4.25am on a three company front, C on right, D in centre, A on left and B in reserve. All companies got up close under barrage and took their objective without difficulties. Consolidating Bayonet and Rifle trenches. The 7^th Norfolk was not successful and the 7^th Suffolk ?...  was met by heavy rifle and m.g. fire and could not get on.

The left company (A) of this battalion captured on Machine Gun, 1 officer and 16 other ranks prisoners. At 9am the situation was that the Bn held Bayonet and Rifle trench as far as I.31.a.55.75 where a bomb stop was made. The enemy occupied Rifle trench as far as the Harness Lane. Positions of 7^th Norfolk and 7^th Suffolk unchanged. One company of the Essex Regt was attached to this Bn and came under the Commanding Officers orders.

Stratford Herald Friday 18th May 1917 - LANCE CORPORAL W. E WOOD

The sympathy of many friends will be extended to Mrs. Wood of West Street on the death of her son who fell in action in France on April 24th. Shortly after the outbreak of the war Lance Corporal Wood entered upon work of a national character while retaining his status as a civilian. He then joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment and had scarcely crossed the Channel three weeks when on August 18th 1916 was wounded in the left side.