Name
Walter Reginald Gatward
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1916
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
22463
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESSEX FARM CEMETERY
II. Q. 16.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Church, Therfield , Non-conformist Chapel, Therfield, Not on the Reed memorials
Pre War
Born on 14 Apr 1889 in Therfield, Herts. son of Thomas and Julia Ann (Hagger) Gatward and christened on 4 Aug 1889 in Therfield.
1901 census details
The family was living in Dane End, Therfield next to Holborn Farm and father Thomas ,55, an agricultural labourer was married to Julia, 49. They had Henry 15, Walter, 11 and Charles aged 9.
He married Daisy Florence Byatt in 1910 in Royston.
1911 census details
Walter, 21 was now married to Daisy Florence (Byatt), 20 and they had a 1 month old daughter, Annie. They were living at Crow Cottages, Reed End. They later had another daughter Elizabeth.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in Ampthill. According to his Medals Rolls Index card he didn’t go across to France until the beginning of 1916. His 8th. Service Battalion was now part of the 6th Division.
In 1916 they lost heavily during a massed bombardment and raid on their lines in April and were engaged in The Battles of the Somme 1916, specifically at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the Battle of Morval in September, as well as the Battle of Le Transloy in October.
But poor Walter was killed on April 19th.
The War Diary entry for the 19th and 20th follows:
19 Apr 1916 In trenches at Ijser Canal Bank, - Wounded 2 O.R.
20 Apr 1916 - Ijser Canal Bank, near Ypres, Belgium in trenches - Battalion moved back in support in dugouts on YSER CANAL - *On night 19/20 Apl. after 2 hours heavy bombardment Germans attacked and gained a footing in trenches D20, WILLOW WALK and S18a - D21, B17a and B16 still held by battalion and line VICARS LANE - CLIFFORD TOWER - GANTHORPE ROAD strengthened and reinforced. Killed - Capt Quilter, 2Lt Cartwright, 2Lt.McMichael. Wounded 2Lt Vipond, 2Lt Player [Harold PLAYER], 2Lt Charles [William Eugene CHARLES]. Missing 2Lt Squier. O.Ranks - Killed 32, Missing believed Killed 97, Wounded 65. Relieved by 2/York and Lancaster Regt
He could only have been in Belgium for a short time before losing his life, leaving his widow Daisy to rear little Annie and Elizabeth Jane who was born in 1913. She was given only £4- 15 shillings according to the ‘Soldier’s Effects document and a small pension for her and her 2 children.
He is buried very close to where he fell, in the Essex Farm Cemetery 11.Q.16 alongside the dressing station where Lt. Col. John McCrae wrote the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
Touchingly, inscribed at the base of the headstone is the following: "Gone but will never be forgotten From his loving wife & daughters A&E".
Additional Information
Brother of Charles Gatward who died 16 Aug 1917 and is listed on this same memorial. Families had to pay 3 1/2d per letter for any inscription so this message would have represented a great deal of money to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Jean Handley
