Pte 91288 Walter Frederick Fowden

• Age: 18
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 8th April 1918
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
  Panel Ref: P.IX.S.3A

Walter enlisted in Manchester and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 91288 when he died of wounds on the 09^th April 1918, aged 18, during the German Spring Offensive. 

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His death was reported stating that he was a Signaller.

Manchester Evening News on Saturday 20 April 1918:

Fallen Fighters. 

Signaller Walter F. Fowden, King's Liverpool Regiment, 82, St. Ives Road, Platt Lane, Rusholme, killed, was employed at the Court of Record, Manchester.  

Also in the Manchester Evening News on Saturday 27 April 1918;

Mr. and Mrs. FOWDEN wish to thank all kind friends for their letters and kind expressions of sympathy during their sad bereavement of their dear son Fred. 82, St. Ives Road, Rusholme.

His parents paid an emotional tribute to him in the local press following news of his death:

FOWDEN - In loving memory of our dear son Private W.F. Fowden (91288), King's Liverpool. who died of wounds, April 8th 1918 -  From his loving father and mother, 82 St Ives Road, Rusholme.

Greater love hath no man than this -

Than he laid down his life for his friends,

Oh, for the touch of a vanished hand,

Or for the sound of a voice that is still.

Her husband Walter, police sergeant, had died in 1918.

His death was reported in the Manchester Evening News on Monday 22 July 1918: 

FOWDEN. On the 21st Inst., at 82, St. Ives Road, Rusholme, WALTER, the dearly-loved husband of Elizabeth FOWDEN, in his 59th year, ex-sergeant Manchester City Police (D Division). Interment Wednesday, Southern Cemetery; cortege leaves house 10 30 a.m. Thy will be done.

Walter earned his two medals.  

His Soldiers Effects, Army pay of £3 6s 10d, a £4 War Gratuity and pension went to mother Elizabeth, 82 St Ives Road.

His chums, still in Germany, remembered him on his anniversary in the Manchester Evening News on Tuesday 08 April 1919;

FOWDEN - In sad but loving memory of my dear son FRED (Signaller W. F. FOWDEN), 91288, 17th King's Liverpools, died of wounds in France, April 8, 1918. Ever remembered by his sorrowing MOTHER. 82, St. Ives Road, Rusholme.

FOWDEN - In loving memory of our dear chum, WALTER F. (Fred) FOWDEN, who died of wounds in hospital, France. on April 8, 1918.

Geater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. CLIFF and SAM (in Germany).

CWGC: Son of Elizabeth Mills (formerly Fowden), of 21, Napier St. East, Oldham. Native of Manchester.

His mother remarried in 1919 to John Thomas Mills and on the 1921 Census they have moved to 21 Napier street East, Oldham. John is aged 51, a gas fitter born in Oldham, Elizabeth is aged 46.

On the 1939 Register they have moved to 18 Chelmsford St, Oldham. John Thomas, dob 27th April 1870, a retired gas fitter, and Elizabeth, dob 20th June 1875. She died aged 74 in 1950 and was buried on the 3rd May at Greenacres Cemetery. 

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