L/Cpl 241638 Walter Shearsmith; 2/5th Dukes

[Chris]

Hi all

Wanted to share with you the story of the above man, from my home village of Bonby, who died of wounds on the 13th sept 1918.

Walter was born, and lived, in the North Lincolnshire village of Bonby, the only son of Mr and Mrs Harry Shearsmith. He lived on the Main road in the village, next door to his cousin Sydney. They both enlisted into the Duke of Wellingtons, at the nearby town of Barton, along with friend William Shepherdson; and Frank Stamford who was seeing Walters sister, Lucy. They were posted to D Company; 2/5th Duke of Wellingtons, and served through 1915 and 1916 in training camps in the UK, before embarking for France in January 1917.

On the 4th August 1917 the Battalion was holding the trenches in front of Riencourt. In mid afternoon Walter crawled out towards the German lines and through a block in an old trench, before locating a German post some 70 yards from the British line. He later crawled back with his officer to pinpoint the location, so that the post could be destroyed. The following day Walter again crawled out of his own line to salvage a Lewis Gun from no-mans land. These actions resulted in Walter recieving official notification on the 31st August that he was to recieve the Military Medal. It is noted in the war diary that by this time Walter was known as a 'Battalion Sniper and Observer'.

A wound to the hand in the winter of 1917/18 saw Walter, by now a Lance Corporal, hospitalized back to the UK, including ten days leave back in his home village of Bonby, before he rejoined his unit back in France. On the 18th June 1918, the 2/5th Dukes were disbanded and Walter was among those men who merged into the 1/5th Duke of Wellington's.

On 29th August 1918, the Battalion were attacking to the south west of Vaulx-Vraucourt, and his citation describes what happened; 'his platoon officer and sergeant having been wounded he took charge of the platoon, reaching his objective and showing leadership of a high order - at one time his platoon were held up by an enemy post (most likely in the railway cutting) on which he led the attack, capturing the machine gun and several prisoners. His personal gallantry greatly inspired his men.'

Sadly Walter never heard officially that he would recieve a Bar to his MM, because as the Battalion attacked through Havrincourt Wood on the 12th September 1918 Walter was hit in the leg by shrapnel. He was conveyed to the 19th Casualty Clearing Station near Boisleux, but despite the amputation of his leg he sadly passed away at 6.45am on the 13th September.

Walter is buried at the Sunken Road Cemetery near the village of Boisleux-St. Marc; his headstone bearing reference to his home village and family; 'Dearly loved sadly missed by Father, Mother and Lucy, Bonby, Lincolnshire.'

Sadly none of his friends or relatives he joined up with survived the war. His cousin Sydney was listed as missing presumed dead following the BAttalions attack on 3rd May 1917, William Shepherdson died not long after being taken prisoner, and Frank Stamford was killed by shellfire.

[Stephen Nulty]

Chris

A sad story, but many thanks for sharing it with us.

SN