Second Lieutenant Sidney Walters, MC

Died of Wounds on Friday, 4th October 1918, age 24.
Buried in Grave V. J. 29. at Tincourt New British Cemetery, Somme, France.

1st/6th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 137th Brigade of 46th Division.
Formerly 10650, 7th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.

Son of Alfred and Mary Walters, of Toll End, Tipton; husband of Dora Walters, of 40, King St., Wednesbury.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Wednesbury, Resident: Wednesbury.

First landed Balkans, 21st July 1915.
Medal entitlement: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers contained within Officer's Papers, transcribed.

Commemorated on the St. Mark's Memorial, Wednesbury Roll of Honour, and Mesty Croft War Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/256556/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Sydney Walters registered March quarter 1895 in West Bromwich. Born Slater Street, Great Bridge on 27th November 1894.

1901 Census
27 Spring Street, Ocker Hill, Tipton, Staffs.
Alfred Walters (age 36, Colliery Engine Driver, born Tipton), his wife Mary J Walters (age 36, born Tipton), and their 9 children: Ethel (14, born Tipton), Alfred E. (13, Nut and Bolt Packer, born Tipton), John Henry (12, born Tipton), Elizabeth Alice (10, born Tipton), Flora (8, born Tipton), Nellie (7, born Tipton), Sydney (6, born Tipton), Bertie (3, born Tipton), and Maud (1, School, born Tipton).

1911 Census
91 Gospel Oak Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Alfred Walters (age 46, Colliery Engine Driver, born Tipton) and his wife Mary J Walters (age 46, born Tipton), and all their 11 surviving children of 12: Ethel (24, born Tipton), Alfred Ernest (23, Blacksmith, born Tipton), John Henry (22, Fitter, born Tipton), Elizabeth Alice (20, Servant, born Tipton), Flora (18, Servant, born Tipton), Nellie (17, At Home, born Tipton), Sydney (16, Nut and Bolt Heater, born West Bromwich), Bertie (13, School, born Tipton), Maud (11, School, born Tipton), Cyril (9, born Tipton), and Edward (7, born Tipton).

Marriage of Sidney Walters and Dora Handley registered December quarter 1916 in West Bromwich. A son, William Sidney Walters, was born on 14th January 1918 in Wednesbury. Dora married Walter Steventon in March quarter 1926.
Sydney's Medal Index Card has an address for his widow, Dora, of 136 Oxford Street, Wednesbury; she was still living there at the time of the 1921 census.

Personal Data

The birth of Sydney Walters was registered as Sydney, his census entries also show as Sydney. All entries relating to his military service have the spelling as Sidney.

Sidney attested with the South Staffords on 18th August 1914, and was posted to the 7th Battalion as Private 10650 Sidney Walters. He was 19 years and 9 months of age, 5 foot 3 inches tall with a 34½-inch chest measurement. He had grey eyes, light brown hair and a fresh complexion; his religion was stated as Wesleyan. He was employed as a Labourer and had scars over his left kneecap.

He first landed in the Balkans (probably Mudros) on 21st July 1915 - so he would have landed at Suvla Bay on the 6th/7th August. He served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force until 27th June 1916, serving in Egypt after the evacuation from Gallipoli. He was appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid) on 13th June 1916 whilst in Egypt. On 28th June 1916, the 7th South Staffs transferred to the Western Front. Sidney was promoted to Acting Corporal on 2nd December 1916, and to Corporal on 31st March 1917.

The process of applying to become an officer started on 9th April 1917. He was back in the UK (allocated to the Depot) from 25th April 1917, but it was 5th July 1917 before he was to report to No.7 Officer Cadet Battalion at Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. He used his time productively, as his son was born 9 months after arriving back in England.

Sidney was commissioned on 30th October 1917, and posted to the 1/6th Battalion, South Staffs. Their finest day was 29th September 1918 ("the day the Staffords won the war"), with the breaching of the Hindenburg Line when the 137th (Staffordshire) Brigade stormed the Riqueval Bridge and took the village of Bellenglise. It was on this day that Sidney won his Military Cross. The Supplement to the London Gazette dated 4 October 1919 states: "For conspicuous courage in action on September 29, 1918, in operations near Bellenglise. With a few men he attacked an enemy machine gun which was holding up troops on his flank. He rushed the post and turned the gun on the retreating enemy. Throughout the operations he led his platoon with great dash and coolness."

War Diary 29th September 1918 – modestly
At 5.50 a.m. under a heavy Artillery and Machine Gun Barrage the Battalion as part of the 137th Infantry Brigade crossed the ST. QUENTIN CANAL and captured the HINDENBURG LINE and the Village of BELLENGLISE.

After Walter's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £49/13/6d (49 pounds, 13 shillings and 6 pence); this was paid to his widow, Dora, in March 1919. His War Gratuity was £19/10/0d (19 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his widow, Dora, in December 1919. Sidney had enlisted on 18th August 1914.

A Widow's Pension of £100 per annum was awarded to Mrs Walters, with an additional payment of £20 for her son, William. This was paid in quarterly payments of £30.

Action resulting in his death

Following the breach of the Hindenburg Line the offensive continued, pushing the Germans eastwards. The War Diary of 3rd October reports that Sidney had been severely wounded. The Commonwealth War Graves records his death on the next day, 4th October. Sidney is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery.

War Diary 3rd October 1918
The Battalion was in position by 05.00am. Zero Hour was 06.05am.The Battalion was on the right of the attack, the 32nd Division taking Sequehart on our right flank. 'C' & 'D' Companies were in the first wave, 'A' & 'B' Companies in the second wave. The Battalion met with very strong opposition from the enemy, his machine gunners being especially troublesome. After some very hard fighting during which many of the enemy were killed and many captured, the battalion reached its objective by about 08.00am. Outposts were pushed forward on to Mannequin Hill but later had to be withdrawn owing to the intense enfilade machine gun fire. Unsuccessful counter-attacks on both flanks were made by the enemy. Shelling and machine gun fire was severe throughout the day. 2/Lieut. C.P.H. Sylvester and 2/Lieut. G. Evans were killed and 2/Lieut S. Walters severely wounded.

Sidney Walters was wounded on 3rd October 1918, and died from his wounds on the next day at Casualty Clearing Station No. 50 at Tincourt. He is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.