6025259, Corporal, Walter COE M.M.
Aged 31
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Born on 28th May 1913 [Newmarket 3b:895]. Walter was the son of George Frederick and Eliza COE (née HOWE) of Newmarket.
Married in Cambridge in Q4-1939 to Winifred Susan SPALDING (later re married as MERRY) of Roselle Terrace, Newmarket. In the 1939 register, a furniture shop assistant,he was at 11 Croft Cottages, Exning Road, Newmarket with his father George F [21-1-1886], a builder's labourer, and his mother Eliza [27-12-1888. No closed records. |
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Awarded the Military Medal..citation: "Throughout the operation East of Bois de Ste Germaine, this NCO displayed great gallantry and command of his men. On the final objective on 8th July 1944, with only 4 men left in his section, he held a post in a most exposed and forward position for 36 hours against continual counter attack and accurate shelling and mortaring. When the platoon on his immediate left withdrew owing to misunderstanding an order, he held his men at their post, fully aware of the great dangers to which he was thereby exposed. Late in the evening of the 10th July he was directly responsible for saving the life of an NCO by dressing his wounds under light machine gun fire, so effectively that haemorrhage was arrested. Later still, after a most intensive shelling on his position he tended the wounded with utter disregard for his own safety. His gallantry and command of his men were beyond the call of duty and played a vital part in the holding of the company position Walter was reported missing, believed wounded, on a daytime patrol on 18th July 1944. His grave was found, with an Officer and 2 Privates, and he was re-interred in Bayeux in December 1944. |
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