Introduction
Walter Charles Abbott spent about six years in the Somerset Light Infantry, serving overseas in India and Egypt during the First World War. After returning to South Somerset in 1919, he married and spent the remainder of his working life as a general labourer and caretaker.
Early life
Walter was born on 9 November 1895 at Halstock, the youngest of ten children of Edward Abbott and his wife Sarah Jane (née Balsom).[1] In 1891, four years before Walter’s birth, his parents were living with their family in a four-room house on the Yeovil Road, where Edward worked as a farm labourer.
In January 1897, Edward died of phthisis at the age of forty-eight, leaving Sarah Jane to support four young children, including Walter.[2] By 1901, she was working as a postwoman and accommodating two boarders, one of whom was Albert Edward Clarke, a farm labourer who was five years younger than her. In late 1908 or early 1909, Sarah Jane married Albert in the Yeovil registration district.
Shortly afterward their marriage, they moved to Hill End, Hardington Mandeville, where they lived in one of the Bridge Close Farm cottages. The 1911 census listed Albert, Sarah Jane, Walter, and Sarah Jane’s illegitimate grandson Reginald. At that time, Walter was working as a farm labourer.
Military career
Walter probably enlisted in the 1/5th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry in April or May 1913, receiving the service number 1875. Following the outbreak of war, his battalion was mobilised, and he would have reported for duty at Taunton. He volunteered for overseas service, and in October 1914 his battalion set sail for India to join the garrison force.
In January 1915, Walter was included on Hardington’s Roll of Honour.[3] In June 1915, the local newspaper reported that Mrs Clarke of Hill End had four sons on active service. Arthur George, Henry Thomas and Alfred were serving with the Somerset Light Infantry, while Walter was with the Territorial Force. Arthur was stationed in France, while Henry, Alfred and Walter were in India.[4]
Early in 1917, the army standardised its numbering system, and Walter was issued the new number 240409. In May 1917, the entire 1/5th Battalion left India and sailed for Egypt to join the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. A medal listing for Walter recorded that he served in theatre of war 4 (b), which was Egypt, and that he rose to the rank of acting corporal.[5] His battalion fought in the Third Battle of Gaza and the capture of Jerusalem, so Walter may have too. He was disembodied on 22 May 1919.[6] Walter was awarded the Victory, British War, and Territorial Force War medals.[7]
Marriage and later life
Shortly after leaving the army, he married Elsie Winifred Dalley, who was a friend of his sister-in-law, Gladys Georgia Abbott.[8] Elsie was the only daughter of George William Dalley, a journeyman carpenter.
The couple initially settled at Over Stratton, South Petherton. Walter became a general labourer working for Sibley and Son at the Parrett Ironworks, where his older brother, Henry, also worked. Walter and Elsie had two children: Denis Walter Gordon, born 1920; and Elsie Eileen, born 1926. Elsie died in 1937 at the age of ten.
By September 1939, the family had moved to 10, The Council Houses, Tintinhull. Walter was then employed as a recreation caretaker and sexton, while Denis was a glove worker.
Elsie died on 11 August 1970 at the age of seventy-four.[9] After her death, Walter moved in with his son at 27 Montacute Road, Tintinhull. Walter died at Summerlands Hospital, Yeovil, on 26 October 1982 at the age of eighty-six.[10]
Conclusion
Walter’s life was marked by a contrast between his years as a soldier, which took him to India and Egypt, and the relative tranquillity of his later civilian life as a general labourer, caretaker and sexton. That tranquillity was interrupted by the death of his ten-year-old daughter in 1937.
References
[1] Civil registration birth certificate; 1939 Register; family reconstitution.
[2] Death certificate of Edward Abbott.
[3] Western Chronicle, 5 February 1915, p.6.
[4] Western Chronicle, 25 June 1915, p. 6.
[5] World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
[6] World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
[7] World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
[8] Western Chronicle, 13 June 1919, p.11.
[9] Headstone at South Petherton; civil registration death index.
[10] Western Daily Press, 29 October 1982, p.12.
