No.45007, Private, Walter BADCOCK.
Aged 27
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Walter Badcock was born in Swaffham Prior in 1890 (Newmarket Q3-1890 3B:499), son of George Edward and Prudence A. BADCOCK (née BAKER).
1891 census...Aged 7 months, he was at Greens Head, Swaffham Prior with his father George E. BADCOCK [27] farm labourer; his mother Prudence Angelina [27]; brothers George W.[2] and Frederick S [1]. They were all born in Swaffham Prior. 1901 census...Aged 10, he was at Unity Cottage, Swaffham Prior with his grandfather Charles BADCOCK [62] horsekeeper born Swaffham Prior, grandmother Mary [59], born Burwell; widower father George E BADCOCK [37] stableman, uncles Edward J BADCOCK [19] and Arthur W. BADCOCK [17] both farm labourers; aunt Mary L.BADCOCK [17]; brothers George and Frederick and sister Lillie [7]. All except grandmother Mary were born in Swaffham Prior. His mother had died in 1897. 1911 census...Aged 20, a farm labourer, he was at Heath Road, Swaffham Prior with his father, step-mother Harriet [51] and his grandmother Mary Rolph [71] and his brothers George and Frederick. His father married Harriet BUNTING in 1905 In 1915 he married Flower Elizabeth WATTS (b.1895) (Chesterton Q3-1915 3B:1319). They had two children, Prudence Angelina. [10-3-1916] and Walter Frederick [23-8-1917] From the pension card it seems his widow had moved to The Square, Stow cum Quy, hence his name on the memorial there. She later moved to Lode Road, Bottisham. She married Bertram FAIRCLIFFE in 1920. His brother Frederick served in the 11th Suffolk, was wounded in the arm and transferred to the Labour Corps where he served the rest of the war, receiving a disability pension of 11 shillings (55p) a week on demob. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. "Soldiers Died" has him resident in Swaffham Bulbeck. His "Soldier's Personal Effects" entry says he died of wounds.
The 2/5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment was part of 176 Brigade in 1917 which was part of the 59th (2nd North Midlands) Division. They were involved at Winnezeale from the beginning of September 1917. On 21st September a further move took them to Goldfish Chateau in the Ypres North Region. On 25th September at 5.50am the Battalion advanced and dug in on a captured line running north east from Primrose Cottage, then at 3.00pm they moved again to a position known as Pommern Castle. The following day, 26th September, the line was subjected to a very heavy enemy barrage and at 6.00pm the enemy counter- attacked. By 7.00pm the attack had been broken with the loss of 34 men, of which only 4 have identified graves.
and on the roll of honour of Stow cum Quy click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
