Walter Ormerod

Private 203084
2/4th Bn, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt)

Walter Ormerod was killed in action in France on 4 November 1918, and is buried in Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-Au-Bois (Grave Ref. I. C. 13).

At the time of his death, his battalion, 2/4th Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt) formed part of 186th Brigade, 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. On 4 November 1918 it was involved in the Battle of the Sambre, during the final advance in Picardy.

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database confirms that Walter was killed in action on 4 November 1918. The Database also records that he was born in Harley Wood, and enlisted in the Army in Todmorden, Yorkshire.

Walter's name is commemorated on the gravestone of his parents in the chapelyard of Shore General Baptist Chapel, near Todmorden, Yorkshire.

Although the inscription on this gravestone is not clear on the photograph below, it reads:

"In Loving / Memory of / MARTHA / WIFE OF HENRY ORMEROD, / OF CORNHOLME / DIED MAY 22ND 1919 / AGED 65 YEARS / ALSO  WILLIAM HENRY, THEIR SON / DIED OCTOBER 27TH 1904 / AGED 16 YEARS / ALSO WALTER, THEIR SON / 2/4 WEST RIDING REGIMENT / KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE / NOVEMBER 4TH 1918 / AGED 21 YEARS / ALSO THE ABOVE NAMED / HENRY ORMEROD / DIED DEC 26TH 1934 / AGED 76 YEARS / ALSO KATHLEEN, DAUGHTER / OF FIELDEN & MARGARET C. ORMEROD / OF CORNHOLME TERRACE. DIED FEBY 24TH 1943 AGED 13 YEARS / ALSO FIELDEN, BELOVED HUSBAND OF / MARGARET CASTLE ORMEROD / WHO DIED NOVR 23RD 1954 AGED 61 YEARS"

His name is also commemorated on the war memorial in this chapelyard, as well as on the Cornholme War Memorial, situated in the chapelyard of Vale Baptist Chapel, Yorkshire.

Walter can be found on the 1901 Census, living with his parents and siblings at Kitson Royd, Cornholme. Their details are recorded as follows.

Walter's father, Henry, was the son of Abraham Ormerod, born about 1835, in Stansfield, Yorkshire, and Sarah (née Cunliffe).