Cpl 22409 Walter Hindley

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
• Commemorated at: Grand Seraucourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: III.I.3

Walter Hindley was born on 05th May 1897 in Liverpool and was the son of James Wilson Kelson Hindley and his wife Margaret Ellen(née Turnbull), both born in Liverpool, who were married at Christ Church, Edge Hill on the 25th June 1891. James was a 23 year old waterman(?) of 19 Horwick Street, his father, Richard, was a warehouseman(?), whilst Margaret was aged 22 of 4 Horwick Street, her father James was a basketmaker. 

He enlisted in Liverpool originally joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22049 on the 09th November 1914. He gave his age as 19 years and 1 month, and his occupation as a seaman. He was described as being 5' 7" tall, weight 115lbs, 34"chest, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and gave his father, James, as his next of kin,  of185a Kensington. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

His service record shows the following: 

22^nd  GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am. 

He was reported as Missing in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 26 October 1918: 

Missing Signaller.  

Corporal W. Hindley, Signaller King’s (Liverpool Regt.) is officially reported missing on March 22nd, 1918. Any news concerning him will be gladly received by his parents at 185a Kensington, Liverpool. 

Walter now rests at Grand Seraucourt British Cemetery.

II Corps passed through this neighbourhood on the Retreat from Mons in August, 1914, and it was lost in the early days of the Fifth Army retreat in March, 1918.

The Cemetery was made in 1920-26 by the concentration of graves from the battlefields and from other burial grounds.

There are now over 2,000, 1914-18 and a small number of 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, almost two-thirds from the 1914-18 War are unidentified and special memorials are erected to two soldiers from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried here. Other special memorials record the names of 32 United Kingdom soldiers, buried by the enemy, whose graves could not be found. In Plots III, IV and V are many graves, identified collectively but not individually, which are marked by headstones superscribed: "Buried near this spot".

The British Cemetery covers an area of 4,732 square metres and is enclosed by a stone rubble wall. 

He earned his three medals. 

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £22 6s 5d, War Gratuity of £20-10s, and Pension to his mother Margaret. 

W. Hindley is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall on Panel 51 Right.

Walter's brother Benjamin W. served as 100880 in the 2nd Battalion KLR ( his medal index card shows he served later as 52104 in the Northampton Regiment).

His mother died in the December quarter of 1939, aged 70.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 08 December 1939; 

HlNDLEY— December 7, Smithdown Road Hospital, aged 70 years. MARGARET ELLEN, the beloved wife of James W. K. Hindley (late of Day Street). Cortege leaves 12 Crosfield Road, on Monday next, for interment at Anfield Cemetery at 3 p.m. 

We currently have no further information on Walter Hindley, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.