Pte 41160 Walter Brunton

• Age: 25
• From: Burnley, Lancs
• Regiment: 12 KLR
• Died on Thursday 5th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C. 

Walter Brunton was born in 1891 in Burnley and was the son of Arthur Brunton and his wife Charlotte Ann(nee Eastwood) who were married in 1887 at Burnley Registry Office.  

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 14 Hartley Street, Burnley. His father,Arthur, is aged 32, and is a cotton weaver, his mother, Charlotte,is aged 23, and is also a cotton weaver. The children are Eastwood 3, Edgar 2, and Walter 1(all born in Burnley). Brother Eastwood sadly died, aged 4, shortly after the census. 

On the 1901 Census the family are still living at 14 Hartley Street. Arthur, aged 32, Charlotte aged 33 (now precisely born Habergham Eaves) and Edgar aged 12 are cotton weavers, Walter is 10, Thomas 7 and Maggie 1. 

By the 1911 Census the family have moved to 111 Accrington Road, Burnley Lane. His father, Arthur, is aged 42, a cotton weaver, his mother, Charlotte, is aged 43. They have been married for 24 years and have had 5 children, 4 of whom have survived. There are three children declared in the household; Walter aged 20 and Thomas 17 are cotton weavers, Maggie is 11 and at school.  

Previous to enlistment in the Army he was employed as a weaver at Brierley's Calder Vale mill. 

He enlisted around May 1916 as Private No.41160 in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment. At some point he transferred in the field to the 12th Battalion of the King’s. The war diary describes two sets of draft coming in just a few days before his death on the 5th October.   

12th K.L.R. WAR DIARY October 1916. 

Reserve Trench nr GUEUDECOURT(south of Bapaume) 

1.10.16 - Battalion in trenches off Sunken Road from GINCHY to GUEUDECOURT. Headquarters at N32 c 5.0.  

Fine weather and no shelling. 98 other ranks joined in draft.  

2.10.16 - Fine day, Battn took over frontline from D.C.L.I. at night(Duke of Cornwall’s).  

3.10.16 - Wet. Some heavy shelling. Casualties – 15 wounded, 2 killed. draft of 93 o.r. arrived. 

4.10.16 - Relieved by 10th R.B(erkshire). Wet. - casualties 3 wounded, 2 missing, 2 killed.  

5.10.16 - Bivouacs East of Bernafay Wood. 2 men killed.  

6.10.16 - Moved from bivouacs to assembly trenches S of GUEUDECOURT, same trenches are those vacated on Oct 4th. - Relieved 10th R.B. 

Walter’s body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.  

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.” 

His death was reported in the Burnley Express on Wednesday 18 October 1916: 

PUBLICAN’S SON KILLED. 

The sad news of the death of Pte Walter Brunton was conveyed in a letter from his adjutant and received by his family on Saturday morning. In it he said “Your son No.41160 Pte W. Brunton was killed in action by a bullet during operations on Oct. 5th 1916.” A second letter received from his non-commissioned officer states “that Pte Brunton was ‘sniped’ during the advance on the morning of Friday the 5th inst. We were all very sorry to lose him as he was such a good chap, and always very cheery and in good spirits. It is with very great sorrow that I write this awful and terrible news. Please accept my deepest sympathy and also the sympathy of his comrades.  

Pte W. Brunton is the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Brunton of the Dog and Partridge in Westgate, Burnley, and brother to Gunner Thomas Brunton who was severely wounded on the Somme front three months ago and whose portrait appeared in the ‘Express’. The deceased young man was 25 years old and enlisted in the King's Liverpool Regiment only five months ago, being trained at Pembroke Docks. Previous to enlistment he was employed at Brierley's Calder Vale mill as a weaver and was respected by all he came into contact with. 

Also in the Burnley Express on Saturday 21st October 1916:

BRUNTON - In proud and loving memory of Walter Brunton, Pte. King’s Liverpool Regt., killed on the battlefield in France, October 5th 1916, aged 25 years.  

“He gave his life for his country.” 

He was named as killed in action in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 06th November 1916: 

Killed. 

King’s (Liverpool Rgt.) - Brunton. 41160, W.; 

Walter was remembered by his family in the Burnley Express on Saturday 13 October 1917: 

BRUNTON - In loving memory of Pte. Walter Brunton, King’s Liverpool Regt., who paid the supreme sacrifice on the Somme, Oct. 5th 1916.  

A good life is often too short,  

But a good name endureth forever.  

- From father, mother, and sister and two brothers on active service, Adelphi Hotel, Burnley. 

Soldiers Effects to father Arthur, Pension to mother Charlotte, Adelphi Hotel. 

Walter's name featured in a list of the Burnley fallen in the Burnley Express on Saturday 01st March 1919: 

GREATER BURNLEY’S WAR TOLL. 

THE FALLEN ON THE WESTERN FRONT. 

Brunton W., 41160, King’s Liverpool’s, killed by sniper, Oct. 5th 1916, Dog and Partridge Inn.; 

He was remembered by his family on the third anniversary of his death in the Burnley Express on Saturday 04th October 1919: 

BRUNTON - In loving memory of Pte. Walter Brunton, King’s Liverpool Regt., who paid the supreme sacrifice on Oct. 5th 1916, age 25, on the Somme. 

His name was good, his friendship sound, 

Loved and respected by all around.  

- From father, mother, brothers and sisters, Adelphi Hotel.

His father died aged 51 on the 28th March 1920. 

His father's death was referred to in the Burnley Express on Saturday 10th April 1920: 

Mrs Brunton and family desire to thank most heartily the many friends of the late Arthur Brunton for their sympathy and tribute of respect in their great loss, Adelphi Hotel, Burnley. 

Charlotte remarried to 62 year old widower Sydney Herbert Green on the 19th April 1922 at St Peter's Church, Burnley.  

On the 1939 Register, date of birth showing as 13th February 1868, she is once again widowed and living at 47 Abel Street, Burnley with her married daughter Margaret Bannister. She died, aged 80, in 1948. 

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