Walter John Prettyman

A Private with the 589 Home Service Company, Walter died on 9th of October 1918 aged 40. 

Walter was born at Herringfleet in 1878, a son of Walter and Eliza Prettyman. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Herringfleet, on 13 February 1879. By 1881 his father had died, and his family lived at Sunny Bank Cottage, Herringfleet. In 1891 they lived at Barsham Street, Lowestoft, and Walter was an errand boy. 

On 2 April 1899 Walter married Sarah Harmer at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Walter was a hawker living at 72 Sturtin Street, and Sarah lived at 26 Factory Street, Lowestoft. In 1900 they lived at Cambridge. By 1901 they were living at 31 West Street, Harwich, and Walter was a quay labourer. By 1905 they were living at Corton, and by 1911 at 3 Bank Court, Saint Peter’s Street, Lowestoft, and Walter was general labourer for a coal shipping firm. This was still their home in 1914 and by 1919 Sarah was living at 16 Saint Margaret’s Road.

Walter attested for the Army at Lowestoft on 6 June 1916 and was called up on 31 July 1916. Walter was placed in medical category C ii and was fit for home service only. He joined the Middlesex Regiment, service number 35421, and was posted to the 29th (Works) Battalion on 1 August 1916. His unit became the 5th Labour Battalion in 1917 and Walter was renumbered 158947. His new unit was part of the Labour Corps. On 6 July 1917 he was posted to 399 Home Service Employment Company. On 24 June 1918 Walter was placed in medical category B ii. He was posted to 589 Home Service Employment Company, Woolwich, on 25 June 1918.

On 30 September 1918 Walter was admitted to Brook War Hospital, Woolwich, with gastritis and bronchitis. On 8 October he had the symptoms of heart failure, which increased that night, and he died from bronchitis and heart failure the next day.