Name
Walter Ernest Frank Messenger
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/10/1914
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10435
18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TROIS ARBRES CEMETERY, STEENWERCK
II. O. 36.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Bourne End Village Memorial, St John's Church Roll of Honour (book), Bourne End, Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Not on the Boxmoor memorials
Pre War
Walter Ernest Frank Messenger (known as Frank) was born on 12 October 1896 in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Walter and Cicely Messenger. He was one of seven children.
He was educated from 1903 at Boxmoor School, having previously attended Bushey British School, Bushey and Beechen Grove Board school in Watford.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 49 London Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a Rope and Tarpaulin Manufacturer in his own business. They remained living in London Road, Boxmoor on the 1911 Census when Frank was a 14 year schoolboy, then attending Bourne End School, near Hemel Hempstead, which he left later in the year to join his father in the rope making business.
He was a member of the Bourne End Lads' Club and Bible Class.
Officially recorded as born in Watford (more accurately Boxmoor) and was living in Boxmoor when he enlisted in London.
Wartime Service
Walter was formerly in the Territorial Artillery and had enlisted in London in early 1913. He then joined the 18th Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) on 20 August set for a military career. When war broke out they were based at Tidworth, Wiltshire (near Salisbury Plain) and were in France by 16 August 1914.
In October 1914 the battalion was at Neuve Eglise, near Ypres, fighting in the Battle of the Yser. Frank was killed in action by a bullet in the neck on 17 October 1914 shortly after delivering a message to Captain Thackwell, Commander of C Squadron. He was initially buried near where he was killed, but was 'concentrated' after the war when his body was exhumed and he now lies in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £9 2s 2d. His elder brother Rupert served in the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com.
