Name
Walter Orchard
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 on 5 October 1893 in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Walter and Emily Orchard and 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 were living at 11 Moor Cottages, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead. They remained there on the 1911 Census but Moor Cottages were renamed Star Cottages as they were next door to The Star public house. Walter was then working as a Gummer at the Envelope Factory (John Dickinson & Co) at Apsley Mills.
Walter was a well known local footballer, playing for the works football team with his older brother George, and also for Boxmoor Football Club in local leagues and cup competitions.
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 August 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 June 1915 and the Brigade took over a section of the line at Ploegsteert Wood and fought in the Battle of Loos in September where they experienced fierce fighting and heavy artillery bombardment, continuing into October, followed by action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, where there were heavy casualties.
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
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com
