Royal Engineers, Q Company, Service no. 84070
Story
Walter enlisted into the Royal Engineers in Leeds on 5th April 1915, he was 5 ft 6 inches tall, and was a colliery blacksmith. He gave his place of birth as Kippax, and was 48 years-old at the time, which would mean he was born in 1867, however this does not match any Kippax records. The closest match would be the son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Hick, born in 1872. As an older volunteer, even one in a physically demanding job, being a soldier was exhausting. Walter was hospitalised for four weeks in March 1918 whilst in France with myalgia in the back (lumber region). He also had rheumatism and psoriasis, and had to be discharged early on 7th September 1918.
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