Name
William (poss Walter) Norman Penn
1 Sep 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
22677
King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GORRE BRITISH AND INDIAN CEMETERY
VI. C. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield War Memorial, Not on the Little Heath memorials, Not on the South Mimms memorials
Pre War
Walter Norman Penn was born on 1st September 1886, in Little Heath, Hertfordshire, son of Joseph Goss Penn a Gardener and Eliza Ann Penn (nee Johnson). Believed to be one of six children.
His parents married in Welwyn, Herts, on 17th February 1878.
He was Baptised Walter Norman Penn on 24th October 1886, at St John’s church, South Mimms, Herts.
Walter’s father, Joseph Goss Penn died in 1891.
His mother Eliza remarried in late 1899, to Walter Wright.
On the 1901 Census Walter was living with his maternal Uncle and Aunt, David Johnson and Albena at 3, North Road, Hatfield. Walter was still living with his uncle and Aunt on the 1911 Census at the same Address.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted as a Territorial Force Soldier Private 22677, initially with the 11th Battalion, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) later transferred to the 1st/4th Battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). While serving with the 11th Battalion, he received a Gun Shot Wound (GSW) to his right leg on the 8th March 1917, he was treated at the 31st Ambulance Train. No Service record was found.
The Battalion went to France in May 1915 and in Jan 1916 were part of 164 Brigade, 55th (West Lancashire Division, taking part in the Battles of the Somme at Guillemont & Ginchy, Flers-Courcelette and Morval (Sep 1916), The Division was moved in the Ypres Salient in Oct 1916. They took part in Battles of Pilckem (31 Jul - 2 Aug 1917) after which they were withdrawn to refit, to the take part in the Battle of the Menin Road (20-22 Sep 1917).
The Division defended against the German counter attack on 30 Nov 1918. On 15 Feb 1918 the Division was moved to the Givenchy-Festubert area and suffered casualties during strong enemy raids in March 1915. Walter was wounded and died from his wounds on 25 Mar 1918.
Additional Information
His War Gratuity of £10 10s 00d and pay arrears of £5 18s 2d was paid to Albena Johnson (aunt).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
