Private 8576 Walter James Field

The birth of Walter James Field was registered in Aston, Warwickshire, which now falls under the city of Birmingham, in 1882^1/2/3. He enlisted into the army on 11^th September 1914⁴, and served with the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers². He died on 8th July 1916², from wounds soon after being invalid home from France⁵. His death was formally registered in South Stoneham, Hampshire⁶.

On the Thursday 13^th July 1916, Walter James Field was buried in the churchyard at All Saints, Gresford, Wrexham in a service performed by Rev. R.J. Barker Owen. The burial register records his address as Llay Chain, Llay, Gresford³.

On Saturday 22^nd July 1916, the death and funeral of Walter James Field was covered in The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News. The article reads,

“Military Funeral at Gresford

Private James Field (Lancashire Fusiliers) invalid home from France suffering from wounds succumbed shortly after arrival in this country. Deceased who is 34 years of age was formally employed in the Llay Main Collieries. He leaves a widow and one child. The internment took place at Gresford church on Thursday week with military honours. The coffin, borne upon a funeral car which was preceded by a detachment of Welsh Fusiliers carrying arms reversed, together with the band playing funeral selections en route. The mourners included many of the deceased’s late fellow workmen. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. R.J. Barker Owen and the Rev. Harcourt Williams. Three volleys were fired over the grave, and the sounding of the ‘Last Post’ brought an impressive service to a close.⁵”

Walter James Field was buried near to the south of the church tower, in the churchyard of All Saints, Gresford⁷. A search of the churchyard during the summer of 2011 failed to locate a gravestone.

As a result of his military service he was awarded the Victory medal, the British Medal, and the 1914 Star Medal⁴.

Great War Graves at All Saints, Gresford

---

Sources:

1. General Registrar’s Office, England and Wales Birth Indexes, Entry for Walter James Field, Oct- Nov-Dec 1882, Aston District, Volume 6d, Page 307, London, England.
2. Ancestry.co.uk, Entry for Walter James Field, UK Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 [online subscription service]
3. Gresford Burials 1887 – 1944, Entry for Walter James Field, 13th July 1916, number 856, page 107, Gresford Parish Registers volume 29 (microfilm), Reference PD/34/1/563, Wrexham Museum & Archives, Wrexham.
4. Army Medal Office, Pte 8576 Walter J Field, WW1 Medal Index, Western Front Association.
5. The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News, Saturday 22nd July 1916, Wrexham Museum & Archives, Wrexham
6. General Registrar’s Office, England and Wales Death Indexes, Entry for Walter J. Field, Jul-Aug- Sep 1916, South Stoneham District, Volume 2c, Page 87, London, England
7. Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour entry for Pte 8576 W J Field, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, [Online]
8. Photograph by Mike McQuaid

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=671244