Name
Walter Featherstone
26th October 1890.
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/10/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEACONSFIELD CEMETERY, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
807
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no Inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hatfield War memorials
Pre War
Walter Featherstone was born in Salford/Broughton, Manchester, Lancashire on October 26th 1891, son of Walter Featherstone an Engine Packing Manufacturer (B 1851 in Manchester) and Rebecca Featherstone (nee Schofield) (B 1855 in Fulham, London). The youngest of four sons.
1891 Census records Walter aged 2, living with his parents, brothers Charles 17, Donald 11 and Ray 7, at Sycamore Cottage, Lower Broughton Road, Broughton, Lancs.
1901 Census records Walter aged 12, living with his parents, brother Ray 17, sisters Mona 9, and Elsie 5, at Sycamore Cottage, Kersal Dale, Broughton, Lancs.
His mother Rebecca Featherstone died in 1904, aged 49. His father would go on to remarry in 1908.
In September 1910 Walter enlisted in the Horse and Field Artillery, Royal Regiment of Artillery with the Service No. 62236.
1911 Census records Walter aged 22, as a Driver with the Royal Field Artillery, Stationed at Delhi Military Barracks, South Tedworth, Hants.
In July 1912 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and in October of that year he was discharged at his own request on payment of £15.
Walter obtained his Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate, No. 384, on 7th January 1913, he took his flying examination at the Bristol Flying School at Brooklands, flying a Bristol Biplane, at the time of his flying examination he was working as a Draughtsman.
Walter married Florence Ethel Allen in Croydon, Surrey, in the fourth quarter of 1915.
He re-enlisted in Winnipeg, Canada on March 2nd 1916. He was recorded as 25 years and 4 months old, 5’ 7” with a fair complexion blue-grey eyes and red hair. Receiving the regimental number 551937.
Wartime Service
His medal card records him as a 2nd Lieutenant on the General list and served in France, later transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. On the 3rd October 1917.
Walter was at No. 35 Training School Northolt Airfield, taking his final lesson to qualify for his "Wings" when the B. E. 2 Aircraft he was flying had a technical problem and crashed to the ground, he was badly burned in the accident and taken to the Eaton Square RFC Hospital in London where he died the same day.
At the time of the accident he was recorded as living at North Lodge, Hatfield, Herts.
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
