No.12639, Lance Corporal, Walter WHARF
Aged 22
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Ernest Walter William Wharf was born on 27th November 1891 at Bury Road, Brandon (Thetford Q1-1892 4B:357) son of Charles and Eliza Ann WHARF (née SNARE). 1901 census...Aged 10, he was at Bury Road, Brandon with his father Charles WHARF [55] labourer; his mother Eliza [49]; brothers Harry [22] labourer and Ernest [16] labourer; sister Elizabeth [19]. All were Brandon born. 1911 census...Aged 19, a baker, he was at Bury Road with his parents and brothers Harry and Ernest. |
click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
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He enlisted in Brandon.
The 7th Norfolks started October 1915 in shallow, disconnected trenches near Philosophe. They suffered heavy shelling between the 1st and 4th, l0 losing 11 killed and 57 wounded in that time, Walter being the only one killed on 4th The war diary says on the 4th they had moved to the support trenches where the shelling was less severe, they worked to convert the communications trench into a fire trench. From Brandon at War we learn that:- He was killed while he was sleeping inside a dug-out. An artillery shell exploded above it, causing the roof to cave in, although his comrade was retrieved from the same dug out and survived. It was Walter's brother, Corporal Harry Wharf, who wrote to their parents and explained Walter’s last moments. "He was asleep when he got buried with a shell. Everyone tried their hardest to dig him out before life expired, but were, unfortunately, unable to do so. I have taken this photo from his pocket, and am sending it to you. It was a shock to me, as I stood only about ten yards from him. There was another one buried with him, but he was not so deep. His death was instantaneous, and I am sure he felt nothing of it. He had dug a dug out under the trench where there was a sort of cover made with timber and sand. A shell, weighing, I should think, a ton, came and hit just behind where he was lying, and about six foot of earth fell on him and another young chap. Everyone worked their hardest to see if we could save them. We managed one, but he was standing up."
photo: Roy Beardsworth click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
