Name
Walter Breed
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201644
Suffolk Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields, Marlowes Baptist Church, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Walter Breed was born in 1880 in Hemel Hempstead, the youngest child of Joshua and Mary Ann (nee Smith) Breed and one of five children.
On the 1881 Census, the family were living in Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead and remained there on the 1891 Census, when his father was working as an agricultural labourer. Walter left school in 1893 and started work as a labourer and in 1897, like many low paid workers, also joined the Militia to supplement his wages, enlisting into the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. However, six months after enlisting he paid £1 to be discharged, which may have been because he found a better paid job. On his Militia enlistment form he gave his religion as Baptist and was an active member of the Marlowes Baptist Church.
By 1901, although his parents and sister Elizabeth were still living at Piccotts End, Walter had moved to Watford and was a boarder at the home of Thomas and Sarah Halsey at 46 Sotheron Road, Watford and was working as a bacon smoker.
His father Joshua died in 1904 in the Hemel Hempstead district aged 68, and was buried on 27 January in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead and his mother Mary died in 1913 in Watford aged 73, and was buried on 26 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
He married Fannie Francis on 9 September 1905 at Mount Zion Baptist Chapel, Queen's Street, Watford. They moved into 3 Vale Road, Watford and had their first two children, Minnie and William. By the time their third child, Harry, was born in 1909 the had moved to 97 Liverpool Road, Watford.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at 109 St James Road, Watford and Walter was working in a sausage factory. Their fourth and last child, Walter was born in 1913.
(Fanny never remarried and she died in 1954 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 23 September in Vicarage Road Cemetery.)
Wartime Service
He volunteered in Watford in December 1915 under the Derby Scheme which deferred service and released men to be called up at a later date. He was called up in May 1916 and posted to the 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment to undergo basic training in Ipswich (initially under reg, no. 32398). He was engaged on duties at home until November 1916 when he was sent to France.
He saw his first action in December in trenches south of Arras and in April 1917 the Battalion were preparing for the Arras Offensive when Walter was in action at the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe, an assault which lasted 2 days with slow progress, tough fighting and severe enemy resistance and counter attacks. He was listed as one of the "missing" on 23 April 1917 and subsequently confirmed as killed in action.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. He was one of 58 men from the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment to die on that day and who are named on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
His widow received a £3 war gratuity and pay owing of £2 18s 9d. She also received a pension of £1 8s 9d a week from 17 December 1917. There is an article about and a Death announcement for Walter in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 17 November 1917. There is another article in the issue dated 24 November 1917; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 27 April 1918 and 26 April 1919.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage,org.uk, www.hemelheroes.com.
