William Walters
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was born 1st September 1884 in Hyson Green he was the son of William a glass cutter and Fanny Elizabeth (née Pykett) Walters. His father William was born 1st December 1859 in Codnor, his mother was born in 1862 in Gunthorpe , they were married on 25th September 1880 in the Basford Registry Ofiice, they went on to have 6 children all born in Radford Nottingham, Walter b1881, Ernest b1887, Frank b1896, Jane Elizabeth b1898 and Ethel Pykett b1901. In 1891 the family lived at 18 Meredith Street St Ann’s and in 1901 and 1911 at 11 Gadd Street Radford (both Nottingham). William married Florence Elizabeth Redgate on 1st January 1916 at St Pauls Church , Hyson Green.
He enlisted in May 1915 and initially joined 2nd/1st Nottinghamshire Battery Royal Horse Artillery (T.F). He went to France in June 1917 and joined 126th Brigade Ammunition Column, probably as part of a draft as they had been in France since July 1915.There is some confusion as to exactly what happened on the day of his death. Men of 2nd/1st (Warwick) Battery RHA, 126th Army Field Artillery Brigade , 39th Divisional Artillery and 126th Brigade Ammunition Column were attached to 158th Army Brigade, RFA. An explosion took place which resulted in at least fifteen deaths and numerous wounded. Seven men were killed from 2nd/1st (Warwick) Battery RHA and seven from 126th Brigade Ammunition Column. Those killed on the 20th are all buried in Plot III Row G in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery. Another member of the 2nd/1st (Warwick) Battery RHA died of wounds the next day and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. According to another source he was in a party of 50 men in a building when an enemy shell burst killing 16 and wounding 30.‘The Honourable Artillery Company in the Great War’, which covers in some detail the activities of 2A and 2B HAC Batteries RHA which also were part of 126th Army Field Artillery Brigade RFA, indicates nothing unusual occurring on 20th July 1917. A Short History of the 39th (Deptford) Divisional Artillery asserts that the artillery brigades of that unit were out of the line from the first week of July 1917 to 21st July 1917 and records no unusual activity during that period. However, another account states that on 20th July 2nd/1st (Warwick) Battery RHA were in action and that a large bomb was dropped on the battery killing 15 men and setting an ammunition dump on fire. The MC citation to Lieutenant F.W.Mellor Warwick's RHA suggests he steadied the men and enabled half the battery to carry on firing, whilst he personally helped to extinguish the ammunition fire. Second Lieutenant LL Robinson of 126th Brigade Ammunition Column was similarly rewarded.
His brother 280169 Private Frank Walters, South Notts Hussars, drowned on the 27th May 1918, aboard the Troopship Leasowe Castle All Saints Church News, September 1917 (War Obituaries): William Walters, 17 Thurman Street, Driver Royal Horse Artillery enlisted in the middle of 1915, he had been only a month in France when he was he was killed in action during the night of July 20th 1917. He was buried by one of our chaplains, the CO and other officers attending the service, aged 32. He leaves a widow. As a boy he attended All Saints Sunday School. 612494 Driver Albert Ley who was killed in the same incident and was also from Nottingham is buried three graves from William Walters in Plot III Row G Grave 22 In memoriam published 20th July 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- WALTERS. – In loving memory of Pte. W. Walters, R.H.A., killed in action July 20th, 1917. Until the day break. – From brother Walter (in France) and Lizzie.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
