The Somme Remembered – 2nd July 1916
Walter Edmund Say enlisted in Southwark. He was born in Newington or Walworth depending which census you are look at. In the 1901 census you will find Walter aged 1 year living with his parents, Walter and Sarah, and his sibling – Henry aged 7 and his step-sister Rhoda Eaglen aged 8, at 38 Rodney Place, Newington. His father, Walter was a labourer but is listed as being on the Army Reserve List.
Ten years later in 1911 the family has grown and Walter Edmund now has three siblings. Rhoda, his step-sister, is now listed as Rose but Henry who was entered as 8 years old in the 1901 census, now becomes a step-brother. Home for the family at this time is 16 Palatinate Buildings.
Walter while living at 2 Black Prince Court, Walworth, signed his Attestation Papers at Southwark Town Hall on 9 December 1914, joining the 9th Batt., in the Queens (Royal West Surrey. In August of 1915 he was transferred to the 7th Batt., of that regiment and they became his new family. He served as Private 3887.
One document in Walter’s surviving service records give his sibling and information on Rose and other close relatives.
The Queen 7th Battalion was made up mainly of Kitchener Volunteers. These volunteers had served on the Western Front with distinction. Walter and the 7th went to France in August 1915 and suffered horrific casualties on the Somme, at Ypres and Amiens.
La Neuville British Cemetery via CWGC
Walter was wounded, and died on the second of July aged 17. He rests in La Neuville, CWGC cemetery, Corbie.
For his service to King and Country Walter was eligible for the 1915 Star and the British and Victory Medals.
Walter’s family, unable to say goodbye to him or visit his grave, for many years would be receiving letters from the Army. One such letter was posted on the 9 November 1916 – addressed to his mother, Sarah Ann, asked to confirm where Walter’s possessions and medals were to be sent. Can you imagine how many tears must have been shed over that letter, but Sarah, as we now know, was not alone in shedding tears over such letters.
Walter died of wounds in July 1916.
The war ended in November 1918 and in 1921 Sarah was still receiving letters and documents from the Army. The 18 March 1921 Sarah was asked to confirm the receipt of Walters Victory Medal. The 1914-15 Star and the British War Medal had been received in June of the previous year. The monies due to Walter were settled in two installments, firstly in November of 1916 with the sum of £2 13s 7d and in August of 1919 with £6 10s.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone information has Sarah Ann as Mrs S A Day, 2 Black Prince Court, Walworth Road, London S E 17. Sarah chose, in addition to the standard information, to include on her son’s headstone the following inscription:-
Gone to meet our Saviour. He who loves so dear. Gone to rest in Heaven and we shall meet him there.
Sarah Ann Say died in 1932. Did she ever get to see the grave of her son and say Goodbye?