Name
Walter James Arnett
28 Mar 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/09/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
393739
London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
9th (County of London) Bn.
'B' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY
XII. E. 18.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
SLEEP MY DEAR ONE TILL WE MEET YOU
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Letchworth memorials, Tritych, St Peter's Church, Burnham, Bucks., WW1 & 2 Memorial, Burnham, Bucks.
Pre War
Walter James Arnett was born on 28 Mar 1897 in Farnham Royal (baptised 20 Jun 1897 in Burnham, Eton, Bucks., to Owen Arnett, forest keeper at Burnham Beeches, and Mary Ann (nee Vere).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ethel M (born 1889), George Albert (born 1894), Walter J, and Dorothy Evelyn (born 1901) were living at East Burnham, Eton, Bucks.
On the 1911 Census Walter was a telegraph boy living with his parents, Ethel M, George A (assistant forest keeper), and Dorothy at the Common, Burnham, Bucks., also present was Sybil Mary Sparker (born 1906, granddaughter).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Walter. He joined the London Regiment, a Territorial Force Regiment, as Rifleman 5696 possibly in Apr/May 1916 (he was given the serial number 393739 in the territorial re-numbering in 1917) and was posted to 1st/9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria’s Rifles).
This Battalion was part of 169 Brigade, 56 (1st London) Division and which was formed in France in Feb 1916. The Division (wholly Territorial Force) then took part in the Battles of the Somme (1916) at Gommecourt (1 Jul), Ginchy (9 September), Flers-Courcelette (15 -22 Sep), Battle of Morval (25-27 Sep, in which the Division captured Combles), Transloy Ridges (11 – 9 Oct). In 1917 they took part in following the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line (14 Mar – 5 Aprl) and at Arras - The First Battle of the Scarpe (9 – 14 Apr), The Third Battle of the Scarpe (3 – 4 May). They moved to the Ypres salient t o take part in the Battles of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) at Langemarck (16 – 17 Aug).
Walter was killed in action on 7 Sep 1917, probably a result of the trench attrition (shellfire, sniping or trench raids) that took place during periods of Trench Duty.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £6 and arrears of £8 5s 10d was paid to his father. His connection with Letchworth has not been determined.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
