Walter Robert Chilvers

A Sergeant with 1st Bn. Walter died on 24th of August 1914 at the age of 40. 

Walter was born at Kirkley in 1874, a son of Eliza Chilvers. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 18 March 1875. In 1881 his family lived at 25 Southwell Place, Lowestoft, and by 1891 at Elizabeth Cottage, Southwell Road, and Walter worked as a grocery storekeeper. Later his mother lived at 55 Southwell Road, Lowestoft.

Walter enlisted in the Army at Norwich in 1896. He joined the Norfolk Regiment.  

Walter cannot be traced in any U.K. records and this is possibly because he was serving in India with the Norfolk Regiment. We do know that he arrived in France with the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, on 16 August 1914, and he served with A Company. 

On 24 August 1914 the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment and the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment were at Audregnies, near Mons. The British had little time to dig in when they were attacked by a large German force that outnumbered them by three to one. The Norfolk Regiment was given the order to retire and the Cheshire men covered their retreat, losing approximately 800 men in the holding action.  

Walter was reported to be missing in action on 24 August 1914 and, March 1916, it was concluded that he had been killed in action on that date. In the intervening time his family had made several enquiries with the Red Cross to see if they had information about his whereabouts.