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G/18245 11th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Walter Ambrose was born in 1891 in Long Melford, the son of John and Lucy Ambrose. Walter had an older brother and sister: Sidney and Kate. The family lived at Cock and Bell Lane before moving to Westgate Street where his father was employed as a cocoa mat maker and Walter as a ‘grocer’s errand boy’. The family later moved to 5 May Cottages, Waldingfield Road in Sudbury.
Prior to enlisting Walter was employed as a cordite labourer and lived at 69 Lime Tree Place, Stowmarket. He enlisted in Stowmarket on 28 February 1916 and was put on the army reserve until 26 May when he was called to the Colours to serve with the Royal Fusiliers (formerly 2829). According to his army record he was 5ft 4¼ ins in height, weighed 122lbs, with a full chest measurement of 35 ins and a good physical development.
In early September 1916 Walter embarked with his battalion for France; on 13 September he transferred to the 11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment which saw action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15–22 September). In early October the battalion held the front line trench for three days under constant bombardment as the planned advance had been postponed due to the continuous rain; on 7 October at 1.45pm the battalion advanced only 150 yards before there was not one man left standing, enemy machine gun fire and artillery brought the assault to a halt.
Walter was listed as ‘missing in the field’. His death was officially recorded as ‘presumed killed in action’ on or around 7 October 1916. He was aged 24. His body was later found and his identity disc was returned to the family in May 1918.
Walter lies buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, a Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in March 2014. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Walter is also remembered on the Trinity Congregational Church Memorial which was moved to the United Reformed Church, School Street when Trinity closed. The United Reformed Church closed in 2017 and it is proposed that the memorials from both churches will be relocated to the Sudbury Cemetery Chapel.
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