Name
Walter John Speller
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/10/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
10044
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Ponsbourne St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Newgate Street, Ponsbourne, St Mary's Church Memorial, Newgate Street, Not on the Hunsdon memorials
Pre War
Walter John Speller was born on around 1894 at Hunsdon Herts. his parents Charles and Hetty Speller.
In the 1901 census Walter was 6 and living with his parents and four siblings: Herbert (14), Augustus (13), Alice (10) and Leonard Walter(9), at The Street, Hertford Heath. Walter’s father, Charles was born at Elsenham Essex, and his mother Hetty at Henham Essex. By 1911 the family were living at Ponsbourne Park, Lower Lodge, Newgate Street. Walter, aged 16, was working as an agricultural labourer.
Charles and Hetty Speller had 7 children, 2 died at an early age; their 4 sons perished in the war, the remaining child a daughter survived.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Walter became Corporal 10044, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
4th Battalion was based at Bedford and served at home until July 1916 when they went to France where they became part of the 190th Brigade of the 63rd Division (Royal Naval Division). They took part in the Battle for Ancre one of the final battles of the Somme campaign. In 1917 they took part in further fighting at Ancre and then at Arras, before moving to the Ypres salient where they took part in the attempts to capture Passchendaele. At 0530 on 30th October the Battalion attacked German positions at Poelcapelle, supported by 7th Batt, Royal Fusiliers and 28th Batt London Regiment (The Artists Rifles) they advanced over very wet and muddy ground. The weather was very bad and the Bedfordshires were unable to advance more than 150-200 yards, they retreated to their own lines having suffered over 250 casualties, one of whom was Walter Speller.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of February 1915, recorded: “Ponsbourne News, Roll of Honour, Augustus Speller who fell at the front on October 26. At the front: - Water Speller and Herbert Speller.” And in December 1917: “Ponsbourne News, Roll of Honour, It is with much regret we have to announce that news has been received of the death of Corporal Walter John Speller. Much sympathy is felt for the parents as this is the third son they have lost in the war.”
Awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
He was the brother of Augustus, Herbert & Leonard Speller and so four brothers died.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: : Mrs Hetty Speller of New Park Lodge received an “In Memoriam & Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
