Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mary Maria Brewster, born 1856 in Lyddington, Rutland. Walter Hinch Brewster was born in the 12th February1890 in Lyddington, his siblings were, Henry Brewster, a schoolboy, born 1882, George Brewster, an agricultural labourer, born 1877, Rosina Hinch Brewster, a schoolgirl, born 1884, Frederick William Brewster, a schoolboy, born 1886 and John Hinch Brewster, born 1888, all his siblings were born in Lyddington, also residing with the family was Henry Hinch, an agricultural labourer, born 1853 in Panton, Lincolnshire, in April 1891 the family home was at Chapel Yard, Village Street, Lyddington. In March 1901 Walter Hinch Brewster was residing in the family home at Front Street, Lyddington, together with his mother Mary Hinch, an assistant laundress, Henry Hinch, a shepherd, and his siblings Frederick Hinch, a farm labourer and John Hinch. In April 1911 Walter was absent from the family home in Lyddington, residing there was his father, a shepherd, his mother, a laundress and his brother John, a tailor, also residing with the family was Walter’s nephew, Lawrence Smith, born 1903 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Walter’s mother married Henry Hinch, Walter was serving with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India. In the 2nd quarter of 1916 in the Uppingham, Rutland district. Walter was officially recorded at birth as Walter Hinch Brewster, although sometime after the 1891 census his name is recorded as Walter Hinch, and it seems that he continued to be known by this name until his death in January 1916.
He had served for six and a half years with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and came from India (Delhi) with the first expeditionary force for action in France. On the 23rd November 1914 he was wounded in his right shoulder by shrapnel, and in his right ankle by a bullet. After recovering from his wounds he was sent with his regiment to the Persian Gulf where he was killed in action.
The War Diary records: 13 Jan-16 - Patrols sent out at daybreak who reported small parties of enemy in the direction of the WADI RIVER. It was believed that the enemy were holding an advanced entrenched position with their left on the Fort. Orders were issued for the Battn and the 56th (F.F.) RIFLES to drive back the enemy from the forward position and take up a line 800 yards or so beyond it to enable our artillery to shell the main position on the WADI RIVER. C and D Coy’s were in the firing line, A and B Coy’s in Reserve. The orders were carried out without encountering any opposition and the Battn dug themselves in. At 1.27pm report on enemy’s position was forwarded to Bde. At 2.17pm further report on enemy’s position forwarded. At 3.30pm the Battn with the 56th (F.F.) RIFLES on their right resumed the advance with orders to attack and occupy enemy’s main position along the WADI RIVER, thereby assisting the turning movement being carried out by the rest of the VII Div. Formation of Battn attack. Enemy opened fire at about 1100 yards range. The line continued steadily to advance until they got to within 450 yards of the enemy, by which time the Reserves (A and B Coy’s) had reinforced the firing line. Here a heavy fire was kept up on the enemy’s trenches which could now be seen extending along the whole length of the WADI. Ammunition was brought up and the Battn prepared for the assault. (Time about 4.48pm). At this stage the right flank of the Battn became subjected to enfilade machine gun and rifle fire. The assault was not carried out and the Battn dug themselves in with both flanks thrown back. About this time Major LEWIS was wounded and the Battn had suffered a loss of 3 other officers (Lt A. E. DAKIN, 2nd Lt R. W. G. CARD, 2nd Lt T. C. D. HASSALL all wounded) and 197 other ranks. Capt WEIR now in command. At 5.30pm and 8.00pm messages were sent by orderly to 28th Bde explaining the situation. As darkness set in the enemy’s fire developed into desultory sniping with occasional bursts of fire along different parts of the line. At about 11.00pm verbal orders arrived from Bde for the Battn to withdraw from its present position and take up a line 800 yards or so in rear in conjunction with the other units of the Bde, with a view to our artillery preparation being carried out the next morning. This withdrawal was carried out with no casualties, by 2.30am, and the Battn again dug themselves in.
On Friday February 18th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – UPPINGHAM DISTRICT CASUALTIES. Private Walter Hinch, aged 26, of the 2nd Leicesters, was killed at the Persian Gulf on January 13th. He lived at Lyddington, and had served eight years in the army. He was wounded before going to the Persian Gulf.