No.326446, Private, Walter Percy SAMMONS
Aged 25
|
Walter Percy Sammons was born in Burwell on 1st January 1891 (Newmarket Q1-1891 3B:542), baptised in Burwell on 4th November 1892, son of
Susan SAMMONS.
1891 census...Aged 3 months, he was at Silver Street, Burwell with his grandfather, widower Richard SAMMONDS [64], farm labourer; and Richard's single daughter Susan [24] Walter's mother, uncles Arthur [20] and Fred [17], both farm labourers and aunt Eliza SAMMONDS [13]. All were Burwell born. Newmarket Q2- 1900 Susan Sammons married John SHIPP. 1901 census...Aged 10, as Walter SHIPP, he was at Heys Lane, Burwell with his step-father John SHIPP [37] labourer; his mother Susan, brothers John [Jack] W SHIPP [5] and Bert SHIPP[2] and sister Mildred P SHIPP [7 months] and uncle Arthur SAMMONS [30] labourer. All were Burwell born. . 1911 census...Aged 20, a farm labourer, he was at Bunting's Path, Burwell with his parents, brothers Jack (farm labourer) and Bert; sisters Mildred, Maggie [8], Jane [6] and Winifred [3] all born in Burwell. He reverted to SAMMONS for his surname in the Army. |
|
He enlisted in Cambridge. At one time No.3809 Cambridgeshire Regiment and attached to the 13th Gloucestershire Regiment.
Earlier in October the Cambridgeshires had been providing carrying and burial parties to the Schwaben Redoubt. Brigadier General Riddell noted the danger of using Martin's Lane as an approach and an alternative, safer route was discovered. In this route they discovered the body of a runner still holding a scrap of paper. The message suggested stretcher bearers should not use Martin's Lane and also could he not be used again as he had frequently risked his life that day ! On the 14th the Cambridgeshires together with the 4th/5th Black Watch attacked the north face of the Schwaben Redoubt, taking their objectives and holding and consolidating their gains. They lost 50 men killed, 27 have no known grave. Because of the nature of the ground in the cemetery, which was positioned over a network of old German trenches and dugouts, the headstones in the original part of the Cemetery are laid flat rather than upright (the area immediately around the Cross). The later concentration plots have upright headstones as normal. |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details