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1894 - 14/09/1918

Place of birth: Bromley, Kent
Last known address in Bromley: 17 North Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Battalion/Ship: "A" Bty 75th Bde
Rank: Gunner
Number: 53410

Family information

Parents: Alfred William & Clara Elizabeth Bax (nee Canfield)
Parents' occupation: Painter & paper hanger
Siblings: (1)Alfred Thomas, William Charles, Thomas George, Louisa Ellen, Charles Jim, Ellen Elizabeth, Ernest Henry(d), (2)Sidney Ernest, George, Rose Ethel, Edith Clara, Georgina Canfield, Mabel, Stanley (d), Frank Leslie

Census information

1901
Address: 17 North Road
1911
Address: Army

Extra details

Walter was the second of Alfred and Clara's nine children. Alfred's first wife Charlotte Ellen Sweetlove had died in 1891 and he married Charlotte in 1892. Alfred had had seven children with his first wife. Walter was an old boy of Wharton Road School and had worked for a time for Mr Cox, fruiterer.

In January 1911 he enlisted with the 5th Dragoon Guards, at New Cross, stating that he was 18 years & 2 months old when in fact he was 2 years younger. He was 5ft 6¼ ins tall, weighed 123lbs, was of fair complexion, had grey eyes and brown hair. He had three tattoos and several moles. He said he was a gardener. He was serving at the Curragh in Ireland when he was discharged on 21st February 1912 as no longer required.

When war was declared Walter re-enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery in October that year. After training at Swanage he was sent to France on 14th July 1915. During the campaign of 1915, he suffered from trench fever, and on a later occasion had to go into hospital, having been gassed.

Walter's body was exhumed from a small/isolated cemetery and reburied in 1929 in Vraucourt Copse Cemetery, Vaulx-Vraucourt. He had been identified by his "Service dress, Regt buttons, & Boots".