Name
Bertram Waller
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/08/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TF/238036
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 49-51
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Bertram was born in 1886 in Hitchin and christened on 18 November 1886 in St. Marys Church, Hitchin. His parents were George and Jane Maria Waller. Not to be confused with another Bertram Waller born in 1896, who is believed to have served and survived.
In 1891 the family were living at the Grocer’s Shop, St Andrews Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: George (33) and Jane (29), with George working as a fellmonger labourer. Their children were: George (9), Francis (7), Bertram (5) and Gertrude (2).
By 1901 the family had moved to 72 Bancroft, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with George working as a skin collector (tannery). Of their children George was absent, the other had been joined by James (9) and Arthur (5).
Bertram married Emily Basterfield (b 19/7/1880) on 17 Sep 1907 in Queen St Chapel, Hitchin and their son, Bertram George was born on 15 November.
In 1911 the family were living at Saint Andrews School, Hitchin, Herts. Present were both parents, Bertram (24) and Emily (29) and their son. Bertram working as a fellmonger for a leather manufacturer. The census recorded they had been married for 4 years. Another
Before being called up he had worked for G.W. Russell & Son at the Tanyard in Hitchin for seventeen years. He was on the committee of the Union Jack Football Club and was a player for the Blue Cross Football Club.
Bertram enlisted into the 4th Bn. Reserve Battalion Essex Regiment on 1 March 1917, although he gave his preference to be the Royal Field Artillery. At that time he was 30 years and 4 months old, living at St Andrews School House, Hitchin, and working as a flesher. He was described as 5’ 8” tall, 137 lbs with a 34 ½” chest (fully expanded) and had a fair complexion.
His second sone was born in May 1917.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin and was living there when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Bertram was given the Regimental Number TF202664 in the 4th Battalion Essex Regiment and was on ‘Home’ service 1 March 1917 to May 28th landing in Boulogne, France the following day – this was an unusually short period of training. He was immediately posted to the 9th Bn Essex Regiment and then on 18 June 1917 he was transferred to the 12th Middlesex Regiment and remained with them until his death. the 12th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment which was in the 54th Brigade of the 18th Division of II Corps in the 5th Army.
He was gassed from gas shelling, on 21 July 1917 and admitted to the 54 Filed Ambulance, returning to duty on the 30th.
Previous research suggested that at the time of his death he had not long been discharged from hospital with trench fever having previously been grazed on the face by shrapnel. This is not corroborated by his service record and may have been confusion around his gassing.
The time of his death was just before the capture of Westhoek and after the Battle of Pilchem in the Ypres Salient. On the 2nd August 1917 the Battalion went to Sanctuary Wood and the next day went into the front line near Stirling Castle. As the Middlesex moved up, to leave the duckboard tracks was to risk death by drowning. The weather was dull and misty and the battle area was a sodden quagmire.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Panels 49 & 51 of the Men in Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £2 3s 9d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Emily, on 5 April 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 1 November 1919.
His pension cards record Emily Waller as his widow and his dependant, living at St Andrew’s School House, Hitchin. It also records their children as Bertram George (b 15/11/1907) and Arthur James (b 15/5/1917). She was awarded a grant of £5 then a pension of 22s 11d a week from 25 March 1918, but this was increased to 26s 9d from 8 October 1918.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
