Name
Walter Purton
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/10/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19159
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT
IV. C. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, Northchurch Baptist Church Memorial
Pre War
Walter was born in 1890 in Northchurch, Herts, the son of George and Elizabeth Purton (nee Rolph) and was one of nine children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at High Street, Northchurch where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. They remained there in 1901 but had moved to Orchard End, Northchurch in 1911 at which time Walter was working as a chemical worker.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted in Bedford and served with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. They arrived in France in July 1915 and were heavily engaged in Battles on the Somme in 1916.
Between 23–26 October 1916 the 7th Beds were holding the front line at Regina Trench waiting to attack but were delayed by the weather. Walter was killed in action on 24 October 1916, aged 25, and is buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, France.
Additional Information
Both his parents received the war gratuity of £8 10s. and pay owing of £3 12s. 1d. Pension cards exist but do not show the amount of any pension being paid to his mother, who died on 26 September 1922.
His father ordered his headstone inscription while living at High St., Northchurch, Berkhamsted, Herts., it reads: "REST IN PEACE".
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/first-world-war-database
