Walter Radford
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Walter Radford was baptised on 19th May 1887 at St Mark’s Church, Nottingham, he was the son of William Radford, born 1858 in Nottingham and working as a lace carriage grinder, his Mother: Ellen Radford, née Hardy was born in 1864 at Coulby, Lincolnshire. His siblings were William, born in 1884 and working as a lace threader. Sister: Annie, born in 1885 and working as a cigar maker, Lily, born in 1890 and Cordelia, born in 1893. All the children were born in Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family lived at 3A St. Mark's Street, Nottingham, William 53 yrs is a lace carriage hand, he is living with his wife Ellen 47 yrs and there children, William 27 yrs a levers lace hand, Lilly 21 yrs a plain net mender, Cordelia 18 yrs a lace pattern girl and Eva 7 years old. In the same 1911 census, Walter has left the faily home and had joined the Army, he is in barracks at Gosport with his battalion 1st King’s Royal Rifles, he is 22 yrs of age.
Rifleman Radford was a member of 2nd Battalion,King's Royal Rifle Corps, and on August 12, 1914 the battalion entrained to Southampton. They embarked on the S.S.'Galena' and arrived at Le Havre the next day. The battalion took part in the retreat to the Marne, before recrossing on September 10, 1914. It took part in the fighting on the slopes of the Chemin des Dames Ridge, suffering around 320 casualties. The Battalion moved north as the fighting died down and reached Ypres on October 21st. They were involved in heavy fighting around Hill 60, and Rfn. Radford was wounded and taken prisoner. He was moved to Germany, but died of his wounds on 03/12/1914. He was buried at Hamburg Cemetery (V. A. 4.)
Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 25 October 1915: RADFORD died of wounds in Germany, Rifleman Walter Radford, 2nd King's Royal Rifle Corps, youngest son of Ellen and William Radford, 3A St Mark's Street, Nottingham, age 27.
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