Soldier Record

Walter Town was already 50 years of age when he finaly( after several earlier attempts to enlist at various local recruiting-centres) he made his own way from his yorkshire mining village down to London where he enlisted on the 21st of August 1915 at the Westminster recruiting office, having declared himself to be aged 44, He was enlisted into the 5th (labour) Btn Royal Engineers and not suprisingly, was promoted to Cpl the following day, this may have been because of his obvious maturity and because in his younger years he had served with the KOYLI.

He was determined to follow his 2 eldest son's who were already serving abroad, his eldest son George was fighting in France & Flanders with the 11th Btn Rifle Brigade, while his second son Percy was at The Dardinelles with the RHA.

Cpl Walter Town arrived in France on the 28th August 1915 (only 7 days after enlisting) he saw his share of action before eventualy arriving on the Ypres salient in Belgium, He was killed in action on the 17th November 1915 (he had only been at the front for 12 weeks).

He is buried in grave 9, row G at the Divisional Cemetery, Vlamertinge, near Ypres.

Shortly after his death his Widow, Mary Hannah Town, received a personal letter from his Commanding Officer, Captain Allen Campbell saying he had been killed instantly when he was struck on the head by a piece of flyng shrapnel, it also mentioned how popular and respected he had been among his Comrades and that she should be proud that 'when at an age when most men would be studying their cause he had given his life for his country !'.

His widow was left to raise his other 5 children alone until she died herself 13th November 1918! His two older sons returned home after the end of the Great War having both been wounded several times,been mentioned in despatches and the eldest,George, having won the Military Medal and Bar.

Walter Town's grave was unknown and unvisited until 85 years later, in 2000 it was visited by his Grandson Alan and others who have since made several pilgrimages to pay their respects.