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Robert WALTON

Main CPGW Record

Surname: WALTON

Forename(s): Robert

Place of Birth: West Witton, Yorkshire

Service No: 34584

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)

Battalion / Unit: 1st Garrison Battalion

Division: ---

Age: 43

Date of Death: 1917-03-06

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 12.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: BASRA MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: HAWES, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Robert Walton was the son of John and Elizabeth Walton, née Horner. John was born at West Witton and Elizabeth at Bellerby, Yorkshire.

1891 Thornton Watless, Yorkshire Census: Low Pond House - Robt. Walton, aged 17 years, born West Witton, Leyburn, Yorkshire. [Robert was employed by Ellen Pratt, Farmer.]

Robert was married Mary Jane Blackshaw in 1902.

1911 Burnley, Lancashire Census: 1, Keith Street - Mary Jane Walton, aged 39 years, married, born Stockport, Lancashire. [Mary was living with her widowed aunt, Selena Law.]

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Robert Walton, 6002, 6 E. Lan. R.; 34584, Som. L. I. Theatre of War first served in: (2B) Balkans. Date of entry therein: 14.6.15. D. of Dis. 6.3.17.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Robert Walton, 6/6002, E. Lancs R.; 34584, Somerset Light Infantry. Died at Sea 6.3.17.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Robert Walton, 34584, 1st G.B. Somerset Lt. I. Date and Place of Death: 6.3.17. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Mary Jane. £21 13s. 10d.

UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Robert.

A short biography of Robert is included in: ‘Wensleydale Remembered – The Sacrifice made by the Families of a Northern Dale 1914-1918 and 1939-1945’ by Keith Taylor (2004).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

WALTON, Robert, Somerset Light Infantry, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Walton, [Hawes], died en route for abroad.

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Private Robert WALTON

Private Robert WALTON

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: WALTON

Forename(s): Robert

Born: West Witten, Yorks

Residence:

Enlisted: Blackburn, Lancs

Number: 34584

Rank: Private

Regiment: Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry)

Battalion: 1st F. S. Garrison Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 06/03/17

Died How: Died

Theatre of War: At Sea

Notes: Formerly 6002, East Lancashire Regiment

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: WALTON

Forename(s): Robert

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 34584

Rank: Private

Regiment: Somerset Light Infantry

Unit: 1st Garr. Bn.

Age: 43

Awards:

Died Date: 06/03/1917

Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Walton; husband of Mary Jane Walton, of 54, Ardwick [Street], Burnley.

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View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

04 May 1917

WALTON – Died while en route for foreign service, Pte. Robert Walton, Somerset Light Infantry, fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Walton, Hawes.

04 May 1917

ANOTHER HAWES SOLDIER DIES

Private Robert Walton, Somerset Light Infantry, fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Walton, Hawes, has died from pneumonia on board a troopship journeying from England. Pte. Walton was in the East Lancashire Regiment when that regiment took part in the Chitral Campaign, India; went through the South African War, and finished his service in the Army when the present war commenced. He volunteered and went to France early in the war. He was wounded in the head at the latter part of 1915, and was for some time in hospital in England. He was once more en route for foreign service when he succumbed to a severe attack of pneumonia.

18 May 1917

HAWES – THE STRICKEN BRAVE: MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service for all the local men who have fallen in the War since October was held in St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. There was a large congregation and the service was conducted by the Rev. S.D. Crawford. The soldiers to whose memory honour was paid were:– Corporal S. Moore; Private C.E. Bacon; Private J.W. Horn; Private A. Kirkbride; Private J. Iveson; Private J. Mitton; Private R. Walton; Private J. Fawcett; Private L. Staveley.

The choir and clergy were preceded to the chancel from the choir vestry by one of the choristers, Master Kenneth Wilson, in Boy Scouts’ uniform, carrying the Union Jack draped in black. The service opened with the hymn ‘Days and Moments,’ followed by Psalm xxiii, and the lesson from Rev. xxi, verses 1 – 5. Then was sung the hymn ‘Nearer my God to Thee.’ Sentences and collects from the Burial Service, with other special collects, were followed by the singing of the ‘Nunc Dimittis’ and the hymn ‘On the Resurrection Morning.’

The Vicar said: “For the second time we meet to mourn the loss of our fellow townsmen in this terrible and sad war. Your presence here is not only to pay honour to their memory, but is a proof of your sympathy with their sorrowing relatives. No words can lighten that sorrow I know, but I pray – and I am sure you all pray – that time, the great healer of all wounds, may do its work, and that in the years to come their sorrow may be lightened by the thought that their dear ones died the noblest of all deaths – that of the soldier who falls in a righteous cause and for King and Country – aye, and more than that, for civilisation and liberty. I have been asked in more houses than one, “Why should all this fighting and bloodshed be going on between professedly Christian countries?” and I think the only answer that can be given is that it has been forced upon the rest of the world by a country which has substituted for the laws of Christianity the laws of the devil. When a nation goes so far as to brush aside treaties hitherto held sacred among the nations as mere scraps of paper, when it breaks not only the laws of humanity, drawn up to alleviate the horrors of war – laws to which itself had given assent, and gives as its only excuse, the laws of necessity, and when it tries to force upon other nations the ‘Kultur’ which has produced this spirit of ruthlessness and contempt for all that is just and noble and chivalrous, then I say, the danger to civilisation is so great that no Christian country should stand by and take no part in wiping it out. The fact that nearly the whole of the New World, following in the steps of the U.S.A., are either openly at war, or have broken off relations with our enemy, is a strong proof that our cause is just, for it is a condemnation, the greatest condemnation, of their conduct and action. So long as the spirit of militarism, which governs a powerful nation like Germany, lasts, and is allowed to exist so long there will be danger of fresh and repeated wars. We and our Allies are out to put an end to this; we are out to bring about a time when war shall be no more, and peaceful arbitration shall take its place. Is not that worth fighting for? It is a noble object, and those dear lads we mourn to-day, with thousands of others who have made the great sacrifice with them, have not sacrificed their lives in vain, for they have helped to bring about that victory which, God grant, will be the prelude of universal peace.”

After the address and whilst Mr. Haverfield played the Dead March, the chorister before mentioned stood at ‘Attention’ at the chancel steps holding the Union Jack.

The sounding of the ‘Last Post’ by Mr. J. Blades brought a most impressive service to a close.

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