Walter Mark Alner

Story:
Walter Mark Alner was born in 1893 in Tollard Royal, Dorset. He was the son of George Albert Alner, a gardener, and Bessie (or Betsy) Alner née Conway. His siblings included Albert George, born in 1887, who also died in the war. At the time of the 1911 Census Walter was single, working as a Farm Carter and living at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. He enlisted in Blandford as a Private and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10791). He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 24th August 1916 and was buried at Amara War Cemetery, Amara, Iraq (grave id. IX.B.19). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial in St. Lawrence's Church.