Walter Cornelius Shreeve

A Private with 7th Battalion, Walter died on 12th of October 1916 at the age of 19. 

Walter was born at Plumstead, near Norwich on 2 June 1895, a son of Frederick James and Matilda Shreeve. He was baptised at Postwick on 1 May 1898 and his family lived at Postwick. In 1901 his family lived at Broad Lane, Little Plumstead. In 1911 they were living at Barnham Broom, Norfolk, and Walter worked in a garden. By 1914 his parents were living at Holly Gardens, Somerleyton. 

Walter was working as a gardener when he volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Great Yarmouth on 18 August 1914. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 12297. On 22 August 1914 he was posted to the 7th Battalion. Walter arrived in France with the Battalion on 30 May 1915. 

On 12 August 1916 the 7th Battalion were in a trench known as 8th Street, near Pozieres, and making ready for an attack. Walter refused to comply with an order. As a consequence on 15 August he was awarded 10 days Field Punishment Number 1.

On 11 October 1916 the 7th Battalion moved into assembly trenches in preparation for an attack on Bayonet and Scabbard Trenches at Flers, the next day. At 2.05 p.m. on 12 October they commenced their attack: they were on the left of the 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. 

The Battalion had advanced about 50 yards when they met machine-gun fire from both flanks and the front. The barbed wire had not been cut and they could not reach the German trenches. The men took cover in shell-holes and laid down sustained rifle fire on the German positions. After dark they attempted to cut through the German wire, but could not make good their attack. The survivors crawled back to the British lines and reformed. 

Casualties:
Officers: four killed, four wounded, two missing
Other ranks: 36 killed, 125 wounded, 51 missing

Walter was reported missing on 12 October and later it was concluded that he had been killed in action on that day.