Name
Walter Brooks
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25602
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hinxworth Village Memorial
Pre War
Walter Brooks was born in 1894 in Hinxworth, Herts, the son of Arthur and Amelia Brooks and was baptised at St Nicholas Church, Hinxworth on 26 August 1894. He was one of five children, although one died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in the village of Hinxworth with his widowed grandfather William Stanton, and his father was working as an agricultural labour. They remained in Hinxworth in 1911 and 16 year old Walter was working as a horseman on a farm.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted in Bedford and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving in France with the 4th Battalion.
Death was presumed on or since 11 February 1917 during operations at Miraumont, south of Arras. The Battalion were ordered to push forward following a barrage on the enemy front near Beaumont-Hamel. but were temporarily held up by enemy wire and heavy machine gun fire. Walter was one of the 45 men 'missing believed killed' during the action on 6-16 February. Casualties also included 68 killed and 90 wounded.
Walter has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 10s and pay owing of £4 11s. His mother initially received a pension of 3s 6d a week which was later increased to 5 shillings.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk,
