No.5869, Private, Walter COE
Aged 20
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Walter Coe was born in Cowlinge in 1895,(Risbridge Q4-1895 4A:704) baptised Cowlinge on 22nd Decemeber 1896, son of George and Maria COE (née MARTIN).
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at The Green, Dalham with his father George COE [46] horse keeper on farm, born Stradishall; his mother Maria [43] born Cowlinge; brothers Alfred [23] farm labourer born Stradishall, Arthur [21] horsekeeper, Georhe [18] farm labourer, William [7], Harry [3] and Ernest[11 months] born Dunsatall Green and sisters Emily [10] and Florrie [9]. All the siblings except Alfred and Ernest were born in Cowlinge 1911 census...Aged 15, farm labourer, he was at Dunstall Green with his parents and brothers Alfred, William, Harry and Ernest. All the men were farm labourers. This appears to be another instance of whether Dunstall Green counts as attached to Dalham or Ousden!. |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. Since the battle of Alexandria in 1801 when they fought on despite being surrounded. The Gloucestershire Regiment, uniquely in the British Army, wear a badge front and back of when in service dress. Nicknamed "The Glorious Glosters", the regiment carried more battle honours on their regimental colours than any other British Army line regiment. Them 2nd/5th Glosters were part of 184th Brigade, 61st Division. The battalion remained in the same brigade throughout the war. The battalion began its active service in the Laventie sector where the newly arrived division was alongside the newly arrived 5th Australian Division. Both divisions took part in the unsuccessful attack on Fromelles in July which cost the Australians 5,500 casualties and the 61st Division 1,550; it also earned the division the nickname from the Aussies "61st and worst". 2/5th Glosters were in Reserve and it was they who had the job of bringing in and burying the dead, which took three or four days. The battalion moved down to the Somme at the end of October, too late for any of the battles. George was one of only two men from the battalion to die that day.
photo: Rodney Gibson photo:Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
