Name
Walter James Ivory
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
32395
Norfolk Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MORLANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY NO.2
Ref. A.29
France
Headstone Inscription
GOD TOOK OUR LOVED ONE FROM OUR HOME BUT NEVER FROM OUR HEARTS
UK & Other Memorials
Welwyn Garden City Memorial, Hatfield Hyde Village Memorial, St. Mary Magdalene, Church Memorial, Hatfield Hyde, Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
Walter James Ivory was born in Hatfield Hyde, Herts in 1898, Hatfield, the son of James Hubert and Annie Elizabeth Ivory and one of five children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at the Dairy Farm in Wargrave, Berkshire which appears to have been part of the Templecombe Estate. Walter’s father (born at Aldeburgh in Norfolk) was working as a Herdsman. By 1911 they had moved back to Hertfordshire and were living at 9 Sandpit Cottages, Hatfield Hyde, Herts. Walter was a 12 year old schoolboy and his father was working as a Brewer's Drayman.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield Hyde when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted in Hertford and was mobilised in April 1917, serving with the 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment as Private 32395.
He was killed in action on 8 August 1918, aged 20, on the first day of the Battle of Amiens, and is buried at Morlancourt British Cemetery, France.
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of January 1916, reported: “The confirmation was held by the Bishop of the Diocese in the parish church at 3.0 clock Thursday Dec 2nd. The names of the candidates from this parish are appended............. Ivory, Walter J...... “ and in September 1918: “We much regret to announce the death of Private W. Ivory Norfolk Regiment. Who was killed by explosion of a shell. He was home only a short time ago, in the spring, and on his very short leave found the opportunity to be present at God’s Alter, may God rest him! Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see Him!
The following has been received by the family of Pte. Walter Ivory from a comrade: - “Words cannot express how much the section has felt the loss of your brother, who as no doubt you have heard, was killed on Friday 9th. We had just done an attack and were moving a little further forward, when a shell burst just close to him, a piece going through his head, and he was dead in a second and never suffered anything ......I am writing this for all his mates of the section for we had all been together in the same section since before last Xmas, and believe me I have lost one of the best men I ever had on my gun team: he was always willing to do anything or go anywhere with me, and no matter what the conditions were I have never heard him grumble once ... I cannot explain what his loss has meant to all of us.”
The Herts Advertiser dated 7th September 1918, reported: “Pte. W J Ivory - Mrs A Ivory, of ? Sandpit Cottages, Hatfield Hyde has been unfortunately bereaved of her son, Pte W J Ivory, Norfolk Regt., who at the age of twenty was killed on August 9th at Marlinepoint, near Albert(?).”
Awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of £4 14s 9d. His mother received a pension of 5 shillings a week.
His mother, Mrs A E Ivory, 9 New Cottages, Hatfield Hyde, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "GOD TOOK OUR LOVED ONE FROM OUR HOME BUT NEVER FROM OUR HEARTS".
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Ivory (Mother) of 9 Sandpit Cottages, Hatfield Hyde received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
