Biography of Private Walter Needham (24852)
1st South Staffordshire Regiment
Died 20th April 1917

Soldier

  • Name: Walter Needham
  • Date of birth: 1889
  • Place of Birth: Thurlby, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: January – March 1889
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Father

  • Name: John William Needham
  • DOB: 1864
  • Place of Birth: Thurlby, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Timber feller

Mother

  • Name: Eliza (Eva) Kemp
  • DOB: 1867
  • Place Of Birth: Laxfield, Suffolk, England
  • Marriage: 17th June 1885 Thurlby Church, Thurlby nr Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • John W Needham, 1886, Thurlby
  • Emily Needham, 1887, Thurlby
  • Walter Needham, 1889, Thurlby
  • Kate Needham, 1892, Thurlby
  • Joseph Needham, 1895, Thurlby
  • George Needham, 1899, Thurlby
  • Ivy Daisy Needham, 1907, Northorpe (half sister)
  • Stanley William Needham, 1910, Northorpe (half brother)
  • Arthur Edwin Needham, 1912, Northorpe (half brother)
  • Gordon Derek Needham, 1914, Northorpe (half brother)
  • Norman Needham, 1920, Northorpe (half brother)
  • Roland Needham, 1922, Northorpe (half brother)

Census

  • 1891: Walter is living with his parents at Northorpe Street, Thurlby, Lincolnshire
  • 1901: Walter is living with his parents at Bottom Northorpe, Thurlby, Lincolnshire
  • 1911: Walter is living with the Reeve family in Moulton Marsh, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 22 and he is listed as a waggoner on farm.

Relatives in services

Wife

  • Name: Elizabeth Ellen Rowlett
  • Date of birth: 1894
  • Place of Birth: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Marriage

  • Date of Marriage: 1913
  • Place of Marriage: Bourne District

Children

  • Ernest E Needham, 1914, Bourne
    Ethel A Needham, 1916, Bourne

Wife’s parents

  • Father: Edward Rowlett
  • Mother: Annie Mary Loud

Newspaper Mentions

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 19th May 1917
    LOCAL CASUALTIES. Corpl Jos Brown son of Mr and Mrs Brown of Eastgate, Bourne is in hospital at Hampton Court suffering from wounds in his back and right hand. He is one of six sons, five of whom are in the army. Pte G Sherwin, son of Mr and Mrs Luke Sherwin, Bourne who some months ago was officially notified as wounded and missing, is now reported dead. The official notification of Pte Sherwin’s death was received by his parents last week. A memorial service for Pte Sherwin and Pte W Needham was held on Sunday at the Abbey Church. Official notification has this week been received that Corpl E Robinson, son of Mr and Mrs John Robinson, Woodview, Bourne has been Killed in action. Corpl Robinson was attached to the Lincolns.THURLBY
    ROLL OF HONOUR – Another well-known village lad has made the great sacrifice, in the person of Pre Walter Needham, whose father has recently heard the sad news. The second son of Mr William Needham of Northorpe, Pte Needham had been in the Army for two years. He was a quiet industrious lad and much respected in the village.

 

  • The Times Wednesday May 23rd 1917
    DIED OF WOUNDS
    S. STAFFS. R.
    Needham, 24852, W. (Bourne)

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • None found

Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Private Walter Needham, 24852, 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment was killed in action on 20th April 1917 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left To

  • Widow Elizabeth E

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Bourne, Roll of Honour in Bourne Abbey Church
  • Bourne War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens
  • Thurlby, Roll of Honour in St Firmin’s Church

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Private Walter Needham, 24852, 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment who died on 20 April 1917, Age 28
  • Son of John William and Eliza Needham; husband of Elizabeth Ellen Needham of 8 Waterside, Willoughby Rd, Bourne, Lincs.
  • Remembered with honour, Ervillers Military Cemetery.
  • Grave C. 2.

© Picture courtesy of Caroline Durno

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture courtesy of Caroline Durno

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • Walter enlisted in Bourne and was posted to the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He completed 2 years service and so its fair to say that his enlistment must have been around Spring of 1915. As we do not have access to Walter’s full military records we can only really talk about the final month of his life with any certainty.The Battalion started April 1917 in Courcelles-Le-Compte undertaking preparations for a 2nd attack on Groisilles. Moved up at 8.20pm 2nd April attack on enemy lines 5-15am. Attack a complete success. Casualties 1 officer and 26 other ranks wounded. 22 prisoners taken by Battalion. Relieved by 2nd Royal Warwicks at 11pm. Returned to former Billets at Courcelles.

    3rd April – Cleaning up. Moved to Puisieux at 2pm

    4th April – Resting and cleaning up generally

    5th 6th 7th April – Whole Battalion employed on Railway construction.

    8th April – Sunday, Devine services held

    9th April – Battalion employed in repairing roads

    10th April – General training. Weather very bad, falls of snow

    11th April – training during forenoon, moved to Logeast Wood in afternoon. Heavy falls of rain and snow.

    12th April – Battalion returned to former Billets at Puisieux.

    13th April – Weather improved, General Training.

    14th April – Half Battalion employed on working parties, remainder training

    15th April – Enemy attacked and temporarily occupied Lagnicourt. Battalion stood to to assist in retaking it if necessary but retaken by Anzacs. Stood down at 10:30am and 380 men on fatigue duties.

    16th April – Portion of Battalion working parties, remainder training.

    17th April- Heavy fall of snow. Battalion moved to Gomiecourt coming under orders of 187th infantry brigade.

    18th April – Battalion relieved 21st Manchesters in trenches south east of Croiselles. Relief complete at 12:40am 19th

    19th April – Trench duty, A company heavily shelled at railway embankment (Sheet 51B.U.25)
    Casualties 1 officer wounded, 2 other ranks killed, 8 other ranks wounded.

    20th April – As above casualties 1 officer wounded, 3 other ranks killed and 20 other ranks wounded. Heavy shelling.

    21st April – As above casualties 5 other ranks wounded. Relieved by 2nd Gordons at 11:50pm to camp at A.30.c.7.7 near Gomiecourt.

    Walter died of wounds on 20th April 1917 likely from the shelling of the 19th or 20th April in the trenches at the railway embankment.

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office