Walter James Fenn

A Private with the 1st Battalion, Walter died on 4th of October 1917 at the age of 33. 

Walter was born at Lowestoft (possibly Corton) on 21 November 1884, a son of James and Florence Jane Fenn. In 1891 his family lived at Camberwell Cottages, 1 Carlton Road, Kirkley. Walter attended Saint Margaret’s School from 24 October 1892 until 1898 and the school admission register states his next of kin was his grandmother, Sarah Wright, of 34 Oxford Road. In 1901 his family were still living at Camberwell Cottages and Walter was a good clerk for the Great Eastern Railway. By 1911 his parents were living at 98 Carlton Road.

In October 1909 Walter was at Guildford and was involved, as a witness, in the trial of Walter Downes, who was convicted for stealing a bicycle. In August 1912 Walter became an inmate at the Bethnal Green casual ward. In the ward Walter was given 10 cwt of stones to break, but refused to do the task and said it was impossible to break stones on a concrete floor. ’Further he suggested that the cell he was in was not comfortable enough, and pointed out that if the roof were removed, and a skylight put on, it would add to his convenience.’ At Old Street Magistrates Court Walter was charged with refusing to break the stones and giving a false name. ‘The Magistrate, Mr. Chester Jones, said the prisoner should have the rest asked for, and sent him to prisoner of 21 days with hard labour.’ (See Tower Hamlets Independent 7 September 1912, page 2).  

Walter volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lincoln. He joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, service number 3/10354. He was posted to the 6th Battalion, in Gallipoli, and arrived there on 14 September 1915. Subsequently he was posted to the 10th Battalion and then the 1st Battalion. 

On 3 October 1917 the 1st Battalion marched to Zillebeke and given equipment in readiness for an attack. They then spent the night in Polygon Wood. At 6 a.m. on 4 October the battalion began their attack near Broodseinde. A few casualties were caused by machine-gun fire and shells falling short. They encountered pill boxes and machine-gun fire came from one, which was silenced by Colonel Evens firing his revolver through the loophole. After about one hour and forty minutes the attack recommenced and went to the last objective, but heavy casualties were caused by machine guns and snipers in the vicinity of Judge Copse. For the rest of the day the battalion consolidated their position. 

The battalion went into the attack 570 strong and suffered the following casualties:
Officers: five killed, eleven wounded
Other ranks: 24 killed, 167 wounded, 36 missing

Walter was killed in action during the attack.