ROLFE, Walter Herbert


No.G/20343, Lance Corporal, Walter Herbert ROLFE
Aged 35


21st Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
Killed in Action on/since 23rd March 1918


Born on 28th November 1882 at 10 The Butts, Bury St.Edmunds (1st qtr 1883-Bury St.Edmunds 4a:656) son of John and Eliza ROLFE(née MINNS). Baptised at St Marys, Bury St.Edmunds on 17th April 1885.

1891 census...Aged 7, he was at 19 College Street with his grandmother widow Mary Rolfe [72], brothers George [11] and Sidney [1].sister Ruth [6]. All were born in Bury St.Edmunds. His father John ROLFE [43] a groom born Lawshall was a patient at West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St.Edmunds.

1901 census...Aged 17, a wire worker, he was at 15 Horringer Road, Bury St.Edmunds with his parents John ROLFE [57]] groom/gardener born Lawshall; his mother Eliza [49] born Norwich; sister Ruth and brother Sidney.

His father died in 1902

1911 census...Aged 26, he was under gardener at Earlham Hall, Earlham Norwich. His widowed mother was at 2 Westgate Place with his brother Sidney.

He married Hilda May STANNARD [6-4-1889] in Norwich in 1912, later of Old Woodbury, Sandy, Beds. They had three children, Violet Ellen [2-5-1913, Frederick Walter [22-8-1916 and Maurice Albert [16-10-1918]


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.

The Battalion objective on 23rd March, the the 13th E Surreys on the right and 18th Welsh in reserve, was to re-take the village of MORY. The battalion was spread across the Sensee Valley and "D" Coy were still in Croisilles.
8 am Battn concentrated in quarries etc and as son as the East Surreys were seen deploying Sth of ERVILLERS zero hour was fixed for 8:45. At zero "A" and "B" formed up on the St.LEGER -ERVILLERS RPOSADand moved off. Reaching the ridge B.15.a heavy MG fire was encountered but the advance continued. At this time there was not much enemy shelling. Our artillery responded but short falls caused several casualties amongst our troops. This was rapidly corrected.
Despite MG fire the advance continues. Reaching Army Line it was found the Germans were not holding it but had moved to the further side of the ware and were enfilading our troops. As the enemy were reported to be advancing from MORY COPSE, the Reserve Coy was thrown in and a request made for further reinforcements. These took the form of a Coy of the 18th Welsh digging in 400 yards in rear of our right flank for the purpose, if necessary, of a counter-attack.
11:45 CO of "C" Coy (wounded) arrived at Aid Post and reported his men were close to MORY and on the railway embankment NE. As they had not been seen for some time it was assumed they had been cut off. Army Line was manned by mend from the ;left flank until garrisoned as far as B.15.d.2.2. An enemy strong point in MORY COPSE reduced our strength such that further progress was impossible. The advance was halted and consolidation of Army Line undertaken. An enemy plane which appeared and strafed our men was shot down by Lewis gunners. Army Line was very shallow (1ft 6 inches only) and broad, offering little protection and the enemy were constantly enfilading from the right and the left.
.Throughout the day the enemy could be seen massing south of St LEGER and our artillery were able to cause them damage. The Lewis gunners had to ration their fire to save ammunition for any possible attack. One stretch of Army Line had not been dug, but this was completed by the time of the hand over during the night of 23/24th.





photo C.W.G.C.


Walter Rolfe is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens, France bay 7

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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