Walter Inkpen

Story:
Walter Inkpen was born on 1st July 1887, in Shillingstone, Dorset, and was baptised there on 11th September, 1887. He was the son of John Reece Bradford Inkpen, a Postman, and Martha Inkpen (née Newman). His siblings included Ernest John, (b. 1895) and Bertram (b. 1898) both of whom died in the war. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a clerk and living at Behind Town, Shillingstone, Dorset.

He enlisted at Shaftesbury on 8th September, 1914 and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11001) as a Private but rapidly rose through the ranks to Sergeant by 1st April 1915. He served at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory, British War and 14/15 Star medals. He was killed in action at Gallipoli and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 136 to 139). He is remembered on the Motcombe War Memorial, Dorset, and on the War Memorial at the Church of the Holy Rood, Shillingstone, Dorset. Whilst his brother, Ernest, also appears on the Motcombe memorial there is no mention of Bertram. When the 1914/15 Star was sent to his family in 1920, his mother had to remind the authorities that he was a Sergeant not a Private as inscribed on the medal. This was put right by the Records Office in Exeter and a new medal issued in August, 1921.