Name
Walter Prior
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23448
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 A.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, to the missing on the Somme in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial Cheshunt
Pre War
Walter Prior was born in Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex, in 1896, son of Artur Prior an, Agricultural Worker and Susan Prior (nee Clarke). The eighth of ten children.
He was Baptised at the Church of St John the Evangelist, Bush End, Essex, on 16th August 1896.
1901 Census records Walter aged 4, living with his parents, three brothers and two sisters in, Start Hill, Hallingbury, Essex.
1911 Census, Walter (14), is living with his parents, brothers Albert (9), and Benjamin (10) in, Hatfield Heath, Essex. His father’s occupation is given as a Maltster.
It is not known when the family moved to Cheshunt, Herts.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted at Cheshunt, Herts, in November 1915, for the duration of the war, giving his age as 19 years and 7 months, employed as a Nursery Hand and his address as, 6 Prospect Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
He was posted to the army reserve on 20th November 1915, mobilized for war service on 20th January 1916, and posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 25216. Transferred to the 9th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment with the service number 23448. Arriving in France on 1st July 1916, he was reported missing presumed Killed in Action just 65 days later on 3rd September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, at the time of his death it is believed he was attached to the 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.
Additional Information
His effects of £2-4-1, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3,
went to his mother Susan.
His service record is available on-line.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
