Walter Dukes
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Walter Dukes was born in Shireoaks, Notts on 11th July 1896. His father, William Dukes, was on his 2nd marriage to Fanny Gabbitass who was 22 years his junior. Walter also had two brothers, one older and one younger, James born 21 Octoner 1888 and Edgar born 1898. Tragedy struck the family when both parent died, William in March 1889 and Fanny in November of the same year. Walter would have been 3 years old and Edgar only one. For reasons unexplained the brothers were split up, James and Edgar were fostered by George and Sarah Ellis of 10 Co-operative Terrace, Worksop whilst poor Walter, was taken in by Abbeyhurst (Workhouse children’s home) Worksop. By 1911 he was under the care of the Metropolitan Asylum Board at Grays, Essex. He was allocated a place training on their training ship ‘Exmouth’, which provided training for poor boys or boys whose parents had fell upon hard times in the work-house. His 2 brothers were still living in Worksop at this time.
After war was declared, Walter, who was residing at Poplar, London, joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, enlisting from Stepney. He was engaged with the fighting on the western front where he became a casualty and died from his wounds and was buried at the Grevillers British Cemetery, France. Although some years may have passed since being a resident in Worksop, he was not forgotten when the fallen had their names honoured on the memorials of Worksop.
Research by Colin Dannatt
