Walter Wales

There are two Walter Wales with Horbury connections who perished in the First World War. It has not yet proved possible to determine which was the person recorded on our Roll of Honour.

The first alternative is the Walter who was one of four children of Annie Wales, of 50, Horbury Rd., Wakefield, and the late Fred Wales. He was born about 1895 in Wakefield and in 1901 his father worked as an iron moulder’s labourer. Walter joined up soon after the outbreak of war and he became a Private in the 1^st / 4^th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (Service number 3329). He died on 19^th July 1915. He has no known grave, having fallen in second battle of Ypres. His name (like Preston Varley’s) is commemorated on Panel 47 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

The alternate is the Walter who was born in Sheffield, but moved to Horbury, where he enlisted. He joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers as a Private (Service number 241838) and is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial.