No.5446, Lance Corporal. Walter HALE
Aged 19
Walter Hale born in Shimpling (2nd qtr 1895 Sudbury 4a:761 ) son of Barnard and Clara HALE (née MUSK)
1901 census...Aged 6, in Shimpling with his parents (father now recorded as born in Lawshall); brothers Sidney (yardman on farm), Ernest (farm labourer) Albert (farm labourer), Josiah [12] and Miles [3]; sisters Annie [9] and one unnamed [under 1 month] (Violet May). 1911 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at Shimpling with his parents (father born Lawshall);brothers Ernest and Josiah working on farm, Miles and sister Violet. On the pension card his parents were at 5 Gents Lane, Shimpling His brother Josiah was killed almost exactly one year later see here |
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. The confusion here is that the letter home from his Officer says he was killed on 17th and the war diary for that day quotes no casualties, they were digging a communicstion trench and all was quiet.
There is no war diary for this day, entries for June 1916 end on 21st when they were in billets in BRAY, but Walter was the only one from the battalion to be killed that day according to CWGC. His was the battalion noted for kicking a football in front of them during the ill fated 1st July assault a few days later.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |