Walter James Arnold

Story:
Walter James Arnold was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22 May 1884 and baptised at St. James Church on 22 Jun 1884 the son of Philip Arnold and Ellen Arnold (nee Woodford).  The family lived in St. Johns Hill, Shaftesbury, until by 1891 they had moved to North Bradley, Trowbridge, Somerset.   Walter married Ellen Barrows in Charing, near West Ashford, Kent, on 1 Oct 1913.   He enlisted on 10 Dec 1915 and was mobilized on 7 Jun 1916 and joined the 15th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 315526).  During his service he had a number of transfers namely Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 18492); the 17th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 54473); the 11th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 48392) and finally the Worcestershire Regiment (Service Nos. 56372 & 70750).   During this time he served in France and Flanders (where he was wounded) and Egypt.  He was discharged on 3 Dec 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows he was living at 21 Edward Terrace, Chislehurst, Kent, working as a Private Gardener. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Mountfield, Camden Park Road, Chislehurst, Kent, where he was still working as a Gardener.   His death was registered in Bromley, Kent, on 15 Nov 1966 and was buried in Greenwich, London, on 22 Nov 1966.