Walter Treadwell

Story:
Walter Treadwell was born in Preston, Lancashire, in Jan 1881 and baptised at St. Luke's Church, Preston, on 23 Mar 1881 the son of Joseph Flook Treadwell and Elizabeth Treadwell (nee Walkden).  He spent all his early life in Preston until he enlisted on 7 Sep 1898 with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5896).  He was transferred to the Army Veterinary Corps on 22 Jun 1905 with Service No. R/169.  During this period he served in Malta, Cyprus, India and South Africa rapidly rising in rank to Regimental Sergeant Major (W.O. Class 1).   He had married Ethel Hannah Roberts (who had been born in Shaftesbury, Dorset,) at the Farnham, Surrey, Registry Office on 23 Mar 1910.  Whilst they had set up home in Farnham by the time of the outbreak of war Walter had been mobilized and sent to France and Flanders where he was Mentioned in Dispatches for action on 16 Jul 1917.  Shortly after he was sent to Egypt and, whilst there, had had trouble with his eyes which led to his discharge in due course with a pension as well as the Long Service Medal.  He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  Meanwhile his wife had returned to her family home at 37 Long Cross, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for the duration of the war and Walter had given this address on the Absent Voters List of 1918.  By the 1921 Census He had moved to 2 Institute Terrace, Nasfield, Durham, where he had found employment in the local coal mine as a Colliery Horsekeeper (Underground). It is not known when, but he and his wife emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand.   He eventually died on 22 Jun 1952 (as evidenced by his son) in Auckland, New Zealand, and was interred there on 24 Jun 1952.