No.79786, Private, Walter John BARTON
Aged 18
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Born in Bury St.Edmunds in 1900 (1st qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:930) son of Arthur Frederick and Lavinia BARTON (née BYE )
1901 census...Aged 1, he was at 55 Out Westgate, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Arthur BARTON [37] printer/compositor born ; his mother Lavinia [39] dressmaker born Dullinham; sisters Florence [13] born Dullingham Ley, Dorothy [11] and Ella [3]; brother Frederick Arthur[6].The 4 youngest were all born in Bury St.Edmund 1911 census...Aged 11, he was still at 55 Westgate with his parents, sister Ella and brother Frederick. The pension card has his mother at 60 Westgate Road, Bury St.Edmunds. His elder brother Frederick was killed in France in 1916 see here |
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He enlisted in Ipswich. He probably lied about his age, in fact enlisting in Ipswich he may not have told his parents of his intentions, who having already lost a son, would not have been happy.. The fact that he is named on a memorial but also dying of his wounds indicates any grave was lost, or he was last seen injured. The 10th Roayl Fusiliers had the nickname of the "Stockbokers Battalion due to the preponderance of City men in it's ranks initially.
The war diary has not been found for that day, but the orders from 111 Brigade HQ were as follows:- SECRET...7 Oct 1918..10th Battalion Royal Fusiliers...Order No.12 1/ The 3rd and 4th Armes will continue to advance tomorrow 2/ The 10th R.F and 13th K.R.R.C will attack the MASNIERES-BEAUREVOIR line, the final objective being a line fro N.7 central -N.13.d.70.50 - N.19.b.30.30 3/ The 10th RF will attack with B,A and D Coys in front line, C Coy in support. 4/ Each Coy will advance on a two platoon frontage 100 yards between each line of platoons. Each platoon will advance in secton 'blobs' with scouts in front who will find the gaps in the wire. 5/ Battn Boundaries South:- M.17.a central - M.18.c.50.80 - N.19.b.30.30 North:- M.11.b.central to N.7. central 6 ( a mass of detailed map references for each company) 7/ On reaching final objective the Coys will consoldate and the 13th RF and 1st Essex will pass through the 10th RF final objective and advance to the divisional second objective, a line through N.3 central It ends with 18/ Three tanks will advance on the Beaurevoir line with an escort of 13th R.B. These tanks will operate quite independently of the battn but advntage can be taken of gaps in the wire made by them should the wire not be completely cut CWGC have 60 of the 10th Royal Fusiliers killed on 8th October 1918, all bar 14 are buried in BOIS-DES-ANGLES BRITISH CEMETERY, only Walter and 2 others have no known grave.
final objective 8 Oct 1918
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
