Walter Towle
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Walter Towle (junior) was born in 1893 in Basford and was the son of Walter (senior) a forman fitter and Elizabeth Ann Towle née Tyler of 39 Zulu Road, Basford, Nottingham. His father Walter (senior) was born in 1868 at Hucknall and his mother Elizabeth Ann Tyler was born in 1867 at Basford, they were married in 1886 in Nottingham and went on to have 4 children all of whom were born in Basford, they were Gertrude Annie b1891, Walter b1893, Ernest b1896 and Leslie b1907. In the 1911 census the family are living at 81 Zulu Road, Basford and are shown as Walter 43 yrs a forman fitter for the corporation, he is living with his wife Elizabeth Ann 44 yrs and their children, Gertrude Annie 20yrs an upholsteress, Walter 18 yrs a bricklayer, Ernest 15 yrs a foundry labourer and Leslie 4 yrs. Walter (junior) went on to marry his wife Minnie Summers in 1912 in Nottingham and they went on to have a son Walter born 1914 in Nottingham.
Private Walter Towle, enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He landed in France on 25th August 1915 and was killed in action on 6th October 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Albert Hall Methodist Mission booklet No 16 ‘The War and Christian Confession’ being extracts from soldiers’ letters with an introduction by the Rev H Gifford Oyston, dated November 1915. Price one penny. Published by Woodliff Bros. Nottingham. 'Soldiers Serving in the Trenches: ‘I am writing to you during a rest from the trenches. It is a great treat to get the hymns you sent us in the trenches. Services are impossible, and we have to make services as best we can with hymns and prayers, and then we go to our duties with a different feeling, believing God is with us and will lead us.’ [WT]. (Nottinghamshire Archives, NC/MR,14/312) Death notices published 23rd October 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “TOWLE. – Killed in action, October 6th, Private W. Towle, Northumberland Fusiliers, dearly loved husband of Minnie Towle. In a far and lonely battlefield, where the trees their branches bend, lies my loving husband, gone to his untimely end; sleep on, dear husband, in a hero's grave, a grave I may never see, but as long as life and memory last, I will remember thee. – Sorrowing wife and little sonny. “TOWLE. – Killed in action, October 6th, Private W. Towle, Northumberland Fusiliers, aged 23, dearly beloved son of Walter and Annie Towle. Not our will, but Thine O Lord. – Father and mother, 39 Zulu-road, Basford. “TOWLE. – Killed in action, October 6th, Private W. Towle, Northumberland Fusiliers. Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord. – Sister Gertie, and George. “TOWLE. – Killed in action, October 6th, Private W. Towle, Northumberland Fusiliers. – Gone , but never will be forgotten by his brothers Leslie, and Ernest (in France).” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 October 1921: ‘Towle. In loving memory of our dear Walt, killed October 6th 1916. At rest. Father. Mother, Leslie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 October 1921: ‘Towle. In loving memory of my dear dad and brother, killed Oct 6th 1916. Never forgotten. Walter, Ernest.’.(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 October 1921: ‘Towle. In loving memory of our dear brother Walter Killed October 6th 1916. Fondly remembered. Gertrude and George.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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