No.202122, Private, Walter John Edward BONNETT D.C.M.
Aged 21
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Born in 1897 (4th qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:814) son of Walter Charles and Sarah Ann BONNETT (née WELLS)
1901 census...Aged 3. he was at 58 Out Westgate, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Walter Charles BONNETT [26] house decorator; his mother Sarah Ann [25]; brothers Frederick Charles [2] and Henry Albert [2 month]; uncle Herbert Edward BONNETT [29] compositor. All were born in Bury St.Edmunds 1911 census...Aged 13, an errand boy, he was at 58 Westgate Road, Bury St.Edmunds with his parents; brothers Frederick Charles, Henry Albert, Philip [8] and Cyril Arthur [3];sister Agnes Helen [5].All born in Bury St.Edmunds, his mother had lost 2 of her 8 children The pension card has his parents at 30 Westgate Road, Bury St.Edmunds. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds in the Suffolk Regiment but was later transferred to the 1st/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. There was only battalion the Cambridgeshires, a Territorial Force.
The Distinguished Service Medal was the highest award next to the Victoria Cross that an Other Rank could win. There ae two mentions for Walter in the book "The Cambridgeshires 1914-1919" by Brig Gen. E Riddell and Col.M.C.Clayton :-
From Col Clayton :- 26th March " It was a Lewis gunners day "artists" like L/Cpl Muffet and Private Bonnett took up position with a store of drums and waited for the oncoming hordes. They never had to wait long." and also on 22nd August, "On the way back I overtook a wounded N.C.O. with his arm round a slightly wounded man, being half supported and half dragged along. I stopped him, it was Bonnett, a mere boy, but wearing the honourable blue and red ribbon of the D.C.M. It was heroic but fatal kindness; Bonnett was shot through the stomach. In spite of his protests we put him on a stretcher but I knew it was too late, the damage had been done." A rare case of knowing where and when a soldier received the wounds from which he later died - the war diary for 22nd August of the Cambridgeshires:- Morlancourt -4:45 am Assembly was completed at 4:40 am on tapes laid out by Capt E Walker and Lt C Warren. Assembly was most difficult owing to counter preparation from the enemy and several casualties were caused during this period. At.4:45 am the barrage opened and the advance commenced with objective the BRAY-MEAULTE road from F.19.d.3.0. to F.19.a.2.2. There was a thick mist and the smoke from the barrage made it most difficult to maintan direction. Considerable opposition was met with from machine guns in shell holes. The objective was reached at 6:20 am and consolidated.About 15-20 M.G. were captured with two 77 mm guns . There was considerable hostile shelling throughout the day and about 7 pm it became intense on the right flank and on the Brigade on our right. The situation on this flank became obscure and Battn HQ was organised into a strong point. The situation was eventually cleared up by the reserve Brigade which came up supported by tanks. There were 12 officer casualties during the day and a great strain devolved on the remaining officers. The battalion also suffered a great loss through the death in action of CSM BETTS. This Warrant Officer had been serving in France since Feb.1915. He proved himself one of the finest leaders the battalion has ever had. Alhough many times commended he did not receive his DCM until Sept.1917 - he won a bar to his DCM in March 1918 and was recommended for the Military Cross for his gallantry at MORLANCOURT on 9/8/1918 when he single handedly outflanked and captured 30 prisoners. 23rd - Consolidating positions. From the location of Walter's cemetery, he must have been taken to one of the many Casualty Clearing Stations around Daours.
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