Name
Walter Joseph Atkins
6 Apr 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
207179
Royal Engineers
247th Field Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUFFS ROAD CEMETERY
C. 47.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Letchworth memorials
Pre War
Walter Joseph Atkins was born on 6 Apr 1895 in Harlesden, Middx to Albert Ernest Atkins, a builder, and Ellen (nee Barnett).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ellen H (born 1888), Albert (born 1890), Ernest (born 1894) and Walter and Minnie (born 1898) were living at Brickfield Cottages, Walmer, Deal, Kent.
On the 1911 Census the Family of parents, Ellen H. , Albert, Ernest and Walter were living at 2, Wadling Court Villas, Cold Blow, Walmer, Kent.
His parents later came to live at 62, Pix Road, Letchworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted as Private 1253 in the Royal Marines at Deal on 25 Feb 1915 in the Royal Marines Divisional Engineers, a Unit of the Royal Naval Division and was posted on 28 Jun 1915 to join the Middle East Force engaged in the Gallipoli Landings, joining 3rd (Royal Marines) Field Company on 18 Jul 1915. He remained at Cape Helles until the general evacuation in Jan 1916. He was evacuated to UK on 1 Feb 1916 having Pyrexia (Fever) and was drafted for the British Expeditionary Force on 20 Nov 1916 and was transferred to the Royal Engineers as Sapper 207179, in 247th Field Company RE (as 1st (Royal Naval) Field Company was now known) in what had become 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. In 1917 The Division took part in Operations on the Ancre (20 Jan-13 Mar) and the Battles of Arras (2nd Scarpe 23-24 Apr & Arleux 28-29 Apr) before deploying to Ypres to take part in the Battle of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) at the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele (26 Oct – 10 Nov). Walter was wounded and died from his wounds on 26 Oct 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £12 10s and arrears of £10 16s 3d was paid to his mother who also received probate of £124 8s 9d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
