Name
Walter Bath
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
8979
Rifle Brigade
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 46 - 48 and 50.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
He was actually born in Tempsford in Bedfordshire, although census records say St Neots (not far away), around 1885. He attended Hitchin Boys British School.
but was resident in Hitchin. His home was 60, Grove Road, Hitchin. Another home address given for him was 11, Cannon's Cottages, Hitchin.
In 1891 the family were living at 8 Midland Cottages, Hitchin. James was working the Great Northern Railway. He was 34 and Alice 29. Their children were Ralph (8), Walter (5) , William (4), Lewis (2) and Noel at 9-months.
Walter has not yet been found in the 1901 census, but his parents and many of his siblings were in Grove Road, Hitchin. The 2 oldest children, Ralph and William were absent, the others were present, plus Fordham (16) and Harold (4). James was working as a railway labourer.
He enlisted in Hitchin on 2nd April 1902 for 3-years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve. His Attestation papers record that he was 18 years and 7 months old. He was recoded as 5’ 3 7/10” with hazel eyes and dark brown hair, and weighed just 115 lbs. It also recorded that he was serving in the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment which was an Extra Reserve Training Regiment. It seems that he was attesting into the Regular Army.
He had a chequered service record, and his documents show the following: 21-5-1903 - Drunk returning to barracks 11pm – 14-days confined to barracks (CB). 26-6-03 - Absent from midnight to 5:15 – 5-days CB. 8-7-03 - Absent from midnight to 9:25 – 7-days CB. 11-7-03 - Absent from Defaulters call at 11:45am – an extra 2-days CB, 12-7-03 – Firstly absent from parade at Retreat, and secondly absent from Tattoo till 11:50 - 10-days CB. 10-8-03 - Firstly absent parading for picquet at Retreat, and secondly breaking out of barracks – 10-days CB. Then there are more, similar events: 10-8-03 – 10-days CB, 21-5-03 (out of sequence) 14-days CB. 10-8-03 - 10-days CB. 8—9-03 – 14-days CB, 1-6-04 & 2-6-04 – 8-days CB. 27-7-04 – 10-days CB. All while in London.
His time would have been up in 1906 and it is not clear when he left the army, but he married Ada Wilshere in Hitchin on 1 April 1907, and was found in the 1911 census living with her at 11, Cannon's Cottages, Hitchin and working on the railway. They had been married for 4-years and had no children.
Nothing more has been found until 25 October 1913, when his service record says that his time in the Army Reserve was due to expire on 1 April 1914, but he elected to re-engage for a further 4 years – this may have been for some financial renumeration.
After war was declared on the 4th, he was mobilised from the Reserve on 5 August 1914 and arrived in France on 23 August 1914.
The during the war 8 September 1914 in hospital with indigestion and did not re-join his unit until 23 September. On the 16 February 1915 he was awarded 14-days Field Punishment for disobedience while on sentry duty. He was killed in action 3 May 1915.
Officially he was recorded as born Tempsford, Beds, living in Hitchin and enlisting there.
Wartime Service
His Regimental Number remained 8979 and was mobilised in Hitchin in August 1914.
He was involved in the Retreat from Mons and in the battles at La Bassee and was killed in action in the 2nd Battle of Ypres. He was in the 1st Battalion of the Regiment which was part of the 11th Brigade in the 4th Division of V Corps in the 2nd Army.
On the day of his death the enemy renewed attacks to the east as part of the Battle of St. Julien, near Ypres, and the 1st Battalion was badly mauled on the right flank of the Brigade. Their trenches were almost cleared of defenders. He was killed in action on May 3rd, 1915, in the Second Battle of Ypres.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panels 46-48 & 50 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death his service record records his living relatives as Ada Bath (widow), there were no children. His parents James and Alice living at 60 Grove Road, Hitchin. Brothers Ralph and William James, living in Ipswich and Tottenham respectively, Lewis and Noel, living in New Southgate and Weston, Herts., then Harold – a soldier in France and Cyril living at 60 Grove Road, Hitchin. His uncle was Edward Bath at 60 listed as an ex-soldier living in New Southgate.
His personal property was sent to his widow at 11 Cannon Cottages, Hitch on 11 October 1915. His widow was awarded a pension of 10s a week from 15 November 1915. She was also awarded £7 8s 6d, pay owing on 11 October 1915 and £5 war gratuity awarded 22 July 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
