Name
Walter Orchard
5 Oct 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
86731
Royal Field Artillery
C Bty. 62nd Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUNYANS CEMETERY, TILLOY-LES-MOFFLAINES
B. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
ON THE RESURRECTION MORNING ALL THE GRAVES THEIR DEAD RESTORE
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley, Not on the Tring memorials,
Pre War
Walter Orchard was born in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, on 5 Oct 1893 (baptised 1 Nov 1893, Boxmoor), the son of Walter T Orchard, labourer, and Emily (nee Andrews) and was one of ten children, two of whom died in infancy.
He was educated at Boxmoor School from 1898 and left in 1905, just after his 12th birthday, and started work at the local golf course.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents (Walter T was a wood sawyer), Daisy, George, Walter, Percy (born 1896), Mary (born 1897) and Arthur (born 1899) were living at 11 Moor Cottages, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead.
On the 1911 Census Walter was then working as a Gummer at the Envelope Factory (John Dickinson & Co) at Apsley Mills. The family remained at what was Moor Cottages but they were renamed Star Cottages as they were next door to The Star public house. The family consisted of parents, George (wood sawyer), Walter, Percy (apprentice photographer), Mary (laundry hand), Arthur Edith (born 1903) and Albert (born 1905).
He married Nellie Hart on 8 May 1915 at Hemel Hempstead Register Office. She had worked in the Envelope Department at Dickinsons, and they had a child Kenneth Walter born on 22 Aug 1917, four months after Walter was killed. His widow later lived at Gordon Villas, Aylesbury Road, Tring, Herts.
Wartime Service
Soon after the outbreak of war he enlisted in Hertford and joined the 62nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery for basic training on Howitzer guns. Prior to being posted to France, he returned to Hemel Hempstead to marry Nellie Hart. He was sent to France on 2 Jun 1915 with his Brigade as part of 12 (Eastern) Division and they took over a section of the line at Ploegsteert Wood and fought in the Battle of Loos( (25 Sep-8 Oct 1915) where they experienced fierce fighting and heavy artillery bombardment, followed by action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, where there were heavy casualties.
Walter took part in the Somme offensive, during the Battle of Pozieres (26 Jul- 3 Sep 1916) in August 1916, after which he was granted home leave later in the year and promoted to Corporal, spending Christmas with his wife and family.
He returned in Jan 1917 and the Brigade moved north to Arras. The first major action was then at the Battle of the Scarpe 9-14 Apr 1917). They were subjected to heavy shelling in very bad weather and the Artillery was probably taking part in attack on 23 Apr (2nd Scarpe 23-24 Apr 1917) with many units being left in exposed positions.
Walter was killed on action on 23 Apr 1917 during this Battle of Arras, age 23. He is buried in Bunyan Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, France.
Walter took part in the Somme offensive, during the Battle of Pozieres in August 1916, after which he was granted home leave later in the year and promoted to Corporal, spending Christmas with his wife and family.
He returned in January 1917 and the Brigade moved north to Arras. The first major action was then at the Battle of the Scarpe in April. They were subjected to heavy shelling in very bad weather and on 23 April took part in a new attack with many units being left in exposed positions.
Walter was killed on action on 23 April 1917 during the Battle of Arras, age 23. He is buried in Bunyan Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, France.
Additional Information
Walter is the man seated in the photograph. His widow Nellie received a war gratuity of £13 and pay owing of £16 15s 10d. She also received a pension of £1 a week from 19 November 1917. His widow, Mrs N Orchard, Gordon Villas, Aylesbury Road, Tring, ordered his headstone inscription: "ON THE RESURRECTION MORNING ALL THE GRAVES THEIR DEAD RESTORE".
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com
