Name
Walter Edward Element
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/08/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/11285
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12D and 13B
France
UK & Other Memorials
Croxley Green Village Memorial, Croxley Green
All Saints' Church Shrine, Croxley Green
John Dickinson Paper Mills Memorial, Croxley Green
Rickmansworth Town Memorial
Pre War
He was born in Croxley Green in 1896 and was 19 years and 11 months old when he died. Walter’s father Henry was a boot maker and the large family (11 children) lived at 119 New Road. Walter helped in the business and is listed on the Dickinson memorial.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Watford on 15 Nov 1915, entered France on 2 Jun 1916.
Walter E Element of the 13th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, was killed by a shell on 18 August while carrying machine gun ammunition. The battalion (73rd Brigade, 24th Division) took part in an attack towards Guillemont (Somme) that day. Walter was initially reported missing and was not officially presumed killed until July 1917.
Additional Information
Probably cousin of Private Sidney Albert Element also of Croxley Green who was killed in action on 24 Apr 1918 and is also commemorated on this memorial.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, ‘Croxley Green in the First World War’ by Brian Thomson (Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014)
