Name
(George) Walter Pitt
15 May 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/09/1914
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/10173
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore,
St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street,
Not on the St Albans memorials,
We are not aware of any memorial in Colney Street
Pre War
Walter George (or George Walter) known as Walter was born on 15 May 1893 (Baptised 14 May 1897, Hackney, London) in Whitechapel, London in 1897 (baptised 14 May 1897, Hackney, London) to George Augustus Pitt, a licensed victualler, and Emilie (Emily nee Tassell).
On the 1891 Census his parents were living at the Sash & Cocoa Tree, White Cross Place, Shoreditch, with daughter Maud Mary (born & died 1891).
On the 1901 census the family were living at Shirley Road, West Ham, London and consisted of parents, Annie (born 1892), Walter George, Ernest (born 1897) and Lucy Kate (born 1899).
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Walter George, a stable help, Ernest, a telegraph messenger boy, Lucy Kate and twins Arthur Edwin and Ada Edith (born 1 Jun 1902) were living at Colney Street, St Albans.
Walter probably enlisted in as Private L/10173 Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) sometime in 1913.
This man was reported as Walter, by the local paper, killed and from Colney Street.
Wartime Service
Being already in the Army at the outbreak of the Great War Walter went to France on 26 Aug 1914 joining 1st Battalion Queens in 1 Division of the Expeditionary Force at the Battle of the Marne (7-10 Sep 1914) where the Allied Forces ceased their retreat and turned to face the advancing German forces. The B.E.F. then began to follow the Germans northwards and fought the Battle of the Aisne (12-15 Sep 1914). It was following this action that Walter was reported killed in action on 18 Sep 1914.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial to the Missing of Mons, Le Cateau, Marne and Aisne, France.
The De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour records George Walter as 'of St Albans', as serving with the Expeditionary Force and being killed in action at Paissy.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £5 and arrears of £5 3s 9d to his eldest sister Annie. His brother Ernest Samuel served with the London Regiment as Rifleman 30132 and was killed in action on 1 Jul 1916 at Gommecourt.
Walter is also commemorated on a headstone in Frogmore (Holy Trinity) Burial Ground, which reads:
ALSO OF
WALTER PITT QUEENS REGT.
KILLED IN ACTION SEPT 18TH 1914 AGED 21 YEARS IN AGE
WALTER PITT QUEENS REGT.
KILLED IN ACTION SEPT 18TH 1914 AGED 21 YEARS IN AGE
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Derry Warners, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
