Name
Walter Charles Kearn
1874
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/08/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18695
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 10 A and 10 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt Memorials, Langley War Memorial, Bucks
Pre War
Walter Charles Kearn was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, in 1874, son of Edward Kearn a, Gardener and Susannah Kearn (nee Simmons). One of six children.
1881 Census records Walter aged 7, at School, living with his parents, brothers William (10), Arthur (2) and sister Amelia (9) in Churchgate Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
1891 Census, Walter aged 16, had left school and is working as a Groom, the family are still living in Churchgate Road, Cheshunt.
No 1901 Census record for Walter was found. His parents, and three siblings are living at The Kite’s Nest Inn, Stretton Sugwas, Herefordshire, where his father was the Inn Keeper.
Walter married widow Alice Jane Taylor (nee Ackerman) on 2nd December 1907 at Holy Trinity Church, Southall, Middx.
1911 Census records Walter as married living with wife Alice and stepdaughter Florence Annie Taylor (11) at, Lavander Cottage, George Green, Bucks.
Daughter Katheleen Mary Kearn was born in January 1912.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted at Slough, Bucks, posted to the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry and issued with the service number 18695, initially serving with the 2nd Battalion later transferred to the 5th Battalion.
Arriving in France on 5th October 1915, and seeing action on the Western Front. He was Killed in Action on 24th August 1916, aged 43, during the Battle of Delville Wood (Battle of Delville Wood 15th July – 3rd Sept 1916), was part of the Battle of the Somme 1916.
Additional Information
Alice received a widow’s pension of 20/- a week from 12th March 1917, and his effects of £2-1-4, pay owing and his war gratuity of £4-10-00.
Alice’s Pension record card gives her address as, 2 Lodge Cottages, West Slough, Bucks.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
