Walter Milward
He was a coal miner at Annesley Colliery from 1887 (aged 13) to 1893, and a professional soldier with 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Light Infantry (Service No. 4373) from 1893 to 1902. He went back to the pit on his return from the Boer War, before re-enlisting with 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) in 1914.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Walter Milward was born in 1875 at Kirkby in Ashffield, he was the son of Mark a coal miner hewer and Mary Jane Milward née Dinnes of 14 Victoria Road Kirkby in Ashfield
His father Mark was born in 1851 at Warslow, Staffordshire, his mother Mary Jane Dinnes was born in 1854 at Warslow, Staffordshire, they were married on 16th January 1873 at St Edwar's Church, Stafford, they went on to have 6 children, sadly 1 died in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census his parents and siblings are living at 14 Victoria Road, Kirkby in Ashfield, Mark 60 yrs is a coal miner hewer, he is living with his wife Mary Jane 57 yrs and their children, Mary Ellen 25 yrs a domestic cook andLucy Ann 21 yrs a dress maker.
Walter was the husband of Betty Bagshaw Milward (born 14th April 1877) of 11 Bannerman Road Kirkby in Ashfield Nottinghamshire they were married on 12th April 1906 at St Thomas Church, Kirkby in Ashfield, they had 3 children, Winifred Mary, born 25th January 1907 Jack Bagshaw born 20th April 1908 and Dorothy Milward.born 13th June 1909.
Commencing 20th March 1916 his widow was awarded a pension of 25 shiilings a week.
Walter Milward enlisted in 1893, serving in the Yorkshire Light Infantry and was stationed in India before serving in the Boer War in 1899, receiving the Queen's South African Medal with four clasps and the King's medal with clasps, South Africa 1901, 1902. He was put on the army reserve list in 1902 and finally time served in 1909.
Walter enlisted on 6th August 1914 with 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) and was given the rank of Sergeant in 'B' company, taking on the job of drill instructor. By early 1915 just prior to the battalion's move south he was made CSM (acting) and it was made substantive on the day he was wounded near Hetman Char/ Green Hill, Suvla.
The battalion took heavy casualties taking Chocolate Hill on 21 August 1915 and Walter was one of these men. He received a shrapnel wound in the right arm from an exploding shell. The wound did not receive proper attention for nearly four days due to the difficulty of getting men back to the medical facilities owing to constant Turkish sniping and shelling. Some casualties lay in No Man's Land for days prior to evacuation. When Walter eventually reached the hospital ship H.M. Soudan, lying offshore, gangrene had set in. He managed to dictate a letter to his family after an operation to amputate his arm, saying he would probably be home before it.
He did not recover and was buried at sea off Malta on 29 August 1915, and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.
Much of this information comes from Jack Bagshaw Milward’s 1982 manuscript biography of his father, 'Walter Milward - Soldier and Coal Miner 1874 - 1915'. This was edited and published (with supporting documents, photographs etc.) by Hilary Hillier, Jack’s niece (and Winifred Mary’s daughter), in 2005.
Walter Milward
All photos on this page are courtesy of Walter Milward's grandaughter Hilary Hillier.
Walter's mother Mary Jane Milward (née Dennis) c.1900.
Milward serving in South Africa during the Boer War
Four NCOs at Belton Park Grantham 1914. The inscription on the back reads ' 'Dear Bett. Keep this for me. Have sent one of the others to Harriett have you heard of Toms accident his foot a stone fell on it. Have got over the inoculation. Yours as ever Walter’
Letter sent and signed by Walter Milward but written by a comrade. Gangrene from the wounded arm killed him.
Walter Milward name on Memorial
6090 CSM Walter Milward was wounded in action and eventually he was put on a Hospital Ship but died of his wounds and was buried at sea. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.Photo courtesy of John Morse
Walter Milward
Photograph shows the inscription of Thomas Milward's name on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli and is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918