Name
Walter Shadbolt
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
102351
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
165th Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints Church, Datchworth
Roll of Honour, All Saints Church, Datchworth,
Tewin Village Memorial,
St Peter’s Church Memorial,
Tewin Village Memorial St Peter’s Church Memorial, Tewin
Pre War
Walter Shadbolt was born 1886 in Tewin, Nr Welwyn, Herts, the son of Arthur and Elizabeth Shadbolt. In 1891 the family were living in Tewin and his father was working as a gardener and domestic servant. By 1901 the family were living at Lower Green, Tewin and Walter was working as a gardener. In 1911 they were living at Haines Cottages, Tewin and Walter was a watercress worker.
He married Rosetta Wilsher, in 1912 and they had two sons, James Walter (1914) and Leslie Herbert (1916).
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted at Hitchin, and served initially in the Northamptonshire Regiment, later transferring to the Machine Gun Corps.
Walter died on 31 July 1917 at the beginning of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele, when there were heavy casualties in the first two days. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 as well as pay owing £1 14s 7d. She also received a pension of £1 2s 11d a week for herself and her children.
Brother to Bertie Shadbolt who died on 15 July 1916 and who is also named on the Tewin memorial. He is also remembered on his brother Bertie's gravestone in St Peter's Churchyard, Tewin. Their inscription reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF BERT, THE BELOVED SON OF ARTHUR AND ELIZABETH SHADBOLT, WHO DIED FROM WOUNDS RECEIVED ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE 7TH BEDS. REGIMENT IN FRANCE JULY 15TH 1916, AGED 22 YEARS.
WE GAVE HIS LIFE WHAT NOBLER END! FOR ENGLAND'S HOMES. FOR GOD AND FRIEND.
ALSO IN LOVING MEMORY OF WALTER SHADBOLT, BROTHER OF THE ABOVE, KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE JULY 31ST 1917, AGED 30 YEARS.
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
His widow Rosetta later married Frank Croft in 1919 and lived at Bridgefoot Villa, Datchworth, which. presumably, is why Walter also appears on the Datchworth Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
June Colegrove, Adrian Pitts, Pat Bird
