Walter Pemberton Hallam

Pte W P Hallam Worksop Guardian 28 January 1916 We also have to chronicle the death in action this week of Pte Walter Pemberton Hallam son of Mrs Hallam, widow of 23 Gateford Road, Worksop and brother of Mr Albert Hallam, tobacconist of that address. By a melancholy coincidence, he is the cousin of Pte M Reynolds, whose death in action we also record this week. A well known Worksop man, his many friends will hear of his death with particular regret as he was killed as long ago as August 9th at the Dardanelles, but the official news was only received from the War Office on Tuesday, five and a half months after the event. Just as Mrs Hallam thought he had been successfully removed with his regiment to another sphere, a letter was merely marked “killed” about a fortnight ago and this prepared her for the worst. Then came the official announcement on Tuesday, and this stated that a wire from Alexandria announced Pte Hallam to have been killed on August 9th, when, it will be remembered, a number of Worksop, Whitwell and Welbeck soldiers were killed. No details of how the gallant soldier was killed are given or any particulars of his injuries, but we might be very sure that he died as he had lived, a steady, well conducted man, and a true British soldier, who did not shirk his duty, even in the face of apparently overwhelming odds. He comes of a patriotic, nay, a fighting family. He was one of the first to answer the call and enlisting in the 9th Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys) Regiment, was sent to the Dardanelles on the first day of July. Pte Hallam was present in one or two severe engagements in Gallipoli, but soon paid his supreme sacrifice, for he was only fighting for a month. He was a prominent member of St Mary’s (RC) Church. His brother is a Lance Corporal in the 8th Sherwoods. He was here on furlough unexpectedly for Xmas, when a “Worksop Guardian” reporter had an interesting interview with him. Ever since his return, however, he has been ill in hospital. The news of the death of Pte Hallam will be learned with sincere regret by a large number of friends, for he leaves behind a widow and two young children to mourn his loss. Widespread sympathy will be expressed to these relatives, and to his aged widowed mother, but they must find comfort in the fact that Walter died a glorious death, and had laid down his life for King and country. The 9th Battalions War Diaries records 'The 9th Battalion attacked towards Hetman Char to the right of Hill 100 (Ismail Oglu Tepe.) The Brigade advance began to stall but the 9th battalion had a satisfactory line of defence, although at a cost of 8 officers and 150 other rank casualties. The scrub which covered the area began to catch fire and men ended up trapped with no way out. The Turks counter attacked and nearly broke through but eventually a position was established. By this time only two officers remained fit for active duty with - 7 dead, 11 wounded and 1 missing. Only around 300 other ranks remained in the line.' John Morse

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