No.122391, Driver, Walter CHALLIS
Aged 19
no record of medal awards
22nd Reserve Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Died on Monday, 17th July 1916
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Walter Challis was born in Soham (Newmarket Q1-1897 3B:547), son of Thomas Mantle and Adelaide Victoria CHALLIS (née PARR).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Qua Fen Common, Soham with his father Thomas CHALLIS [40] sawyer; his mother Adelaide [31] born Burwell; brothers Thomas [10], Alfred [8] and Stephen [6]. All except his mother were born in Soham. 1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at Qua Fen Common, Soham with his widower father; brothers Alfred and Stephen (farm labourers) and Harry [8] and his uncle John CHALLIS. His brother Alfred served in France and East Africa and was mentioned in dispatches whilst in Africa, he survived the war. His uncle John Challis was killed in France in 1916 see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. The local press reported that he died in hospital. This was the 119 bed military hospital in Swanage in WW1. There seems to be no medal roll or index card for Walter which seems to indicate that he never made it to an overseas posting. The Cambridge Independent Press of 28th Ju;y 1916 reported on his death, stating that he had died in Swansea (sic) Hospital from pneumonia. From his £3 war gratuity, he had served less than 1 year. photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
