Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Dilks Adams, a stone sett maker, born 1850 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Jane Adams (nee Sanderson, married in the 2nd quarter of 1884 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 5th December 1861 in Whetstone, Leicestershire. Walter was born 25th June 1889 in Enderby, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 4th August 1889 in the Parish Church, Enderby, his siblings were, Ernest, born 1888 and Horace, born 22nd February 1891, both his siblings were born in Enderby, also residing in the family home was Walter’s maternal Uncle, William Sanderson, a shoe trade riveter, born 1870 in Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was in Rawson Street, Enderby. In March 1901 Walter was residing in the family home in King Street, Enderby, together with his father, a stone quarry sett maker, his mother and siblings, Ernest, a post office messenger, Horace, Florence Ida, born 1893, Harold Marston, born 27th February 1894, Grace Mary, born 23rd October 1895, Frances Elizabeth, born 24th September 1898 and Marion, born 2nd April 1900, the latter five siblings were all born in Enderby. Walter’s father died In the 4th quarter of 1909 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, aged 58. In April 1911 Walter was employed as a quarry labourer and was residing in the family home at King Street, Enderby, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Horace, a farm servant, Florence, a hosiery trade machinist, Harold, a rubber trade worker, Grace, a hosiery trade machinist, Frances, a schoolgirl, Marion, a schoolgirl, Arthur, born 29th May 1901 and Helen, born 6th February 1904, the latter two siblings were both born in Enderby.
Walter attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 3rd December 1914 in Leicester. He gave his full address as King Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, his age as 25 years and 160 days and his trade or calling as quarryman. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother, Sarah Jane Adams of King Street, Enderby, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was5 foot 3½ inches in height, weighed 124 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 37 inches. His physical development was described as good. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Scottish Rifles at Hamilton as a Private, service number 17232 on the 3/12/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Scottish Rifles on the 3/12/14. Transferred to the 3rd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, and allotted the service number 18190 on the 28/5/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers and embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 1/6/15. Joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, in the field on the 5/6/15. Wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right shoulder, in the field on the 16/6/15. Admitted to the 10th General Hospital, St. Omer on the 20/6/15. Admitted to the 1st British Red Cross Hospital, Le Touquet on the 5/7/15. Transferred to England on the 7/7/15. Posted to the Depot on the 7/7/15. Admitted to Hospital on the 10/7/15. Discharged from Hospital on the 6/9/15. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 5/11/15. Posted to the 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, and embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 2/12/15. Joined the 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, in the field on the 17/12/15. Wounded in action, gunshot wound to right arm and elbow in the field on the 10/1/16. Admitted to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, in the field on the 10/1/16. Admitted to the 24th General Hospital, Etaples on the 10/1/16. Transferred to 24th General Hospital Convalescent Camp, Etaples on the 24/1/16. Transferred to No.3 Infantry Brigade Depot, Rouen on the 12/2/16. Killed in action, St. Eloi, Belgium, in the field on the 27/3/16. A summary of his service records: Total service 1 year 115 days. He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War and Victory medals. A note in Walter’s record records:- In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my dear mother Sarah Jane Adams, King Street, Enderby, Nr. Leicester. Walter’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 27 Mar-16 – TRENCHES. At 4.15am 5 mines in front of ST. ELOI were sprung simultaneously. Immediately afterwards our artillery started a 4 minute bombardment of the objective.
The ROYAL FUSILIERS and NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS assaulted the positions and after some little delay owing to congestion on the part of the -?-, occupied the objective.
Enemy artillery opened practically at once and bombarded our front line trenches from the right of the PS – the Canal Bank heavily. This bombardment lasted about 2 hours before slackening off. Rapid rifle and Machine Gun fire lasted about 35 minutes after the springing of the mines. Enemy artillery fire slackened about 6.30am and concentrated chiefly on the area of the mine craters. One of the digging parties under 2nd Lieutenant McCUTTON, attached to ROYAL FUSILIERS inflicted the following casualties on the enemy.
Killed 1 officer – 6 men.
Wounded 6 men (made prisoners).
Prisoners 45 unwounded.
The working parties which were supplied from “B” Company did good work during the operation.
At 1.00pm the enemy opened a heavy bombardment of our trenches causing casualties and breaking our parapets in many places. The bombardment died down about 3.30pm. No infantry attack followed. Working and carrying parties were eventually forced to return to our trenches owing to Artillery fire. During the night 27th – 28th there were short intermittent bombardments of our trenches, causing casualties and damage to our trenches.
The War Diary records: 28 Mar-16 – TRENCHES. Battalion was relieved by 8th Battalion EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. Relief reported complete 6.00am.
Trenches held by Companies during operations:
U.24 – “A” Company and snipers.
U.23 – “D” Company.
U.23B – “C” Company.
T.3 – “B” Company.
Grenadiers were working two rifle grenade stands one in U.24, one in U.23B. Both were knocked out by shell fire.
Lewis Gunners were distributed along the front.
Carrying parties and working parties concentrated with ROYAL FUSILIERS and returned to our trenches later.
Officer casualties were as follows:-
Lieutenant Colonel McCONEGHEY wounded.
Captain LAMBERT died of wounds.
Captain HOUSTON died of wounds.
2nd Lieutenant HAY wounded.
2nd Lieutenant CUNNINGHAM wounded.
2nd Lieutenant SHUTE wounded.
Casualties Other Ranks were:-
Killed 27.
Wounded 74.
Missing 23.
Total 124.
On relief Battalion marched back to Camp in RENINGHELST.