Stock, Walter

Walter was born in 1887 Walton, Warwickshire. At the time of the 1891 census his parents, George and Jane, were living at Kineton Road Cottage in Wellesbourne with their six children: Ellen (10), George (8), Maud (6), Harry (5), Walter (4) and Albert (2). George was a groom (domestic servant). All of the children had been born in Walton except Maud who was born in Wellesbourne.

In the 1901 census, Walter appears as a houseboy in the household of a local farmer, George Garner, at Wasperton Hill. The household consisted of George and Mary Sophia Garner, their two sons, a cook, a housemaid and Walter, recorded as aged 13.

On 13th March 1907 Walter enlisted in the Hussars. His attestation papers describe him as 20 years 9 months, 5′ 6¼” with brown eyes and dark brown hair, previously working as a groom. In the 1911 census he appears in the military return for the 3rd Kings Own Hussars in South Africa. He is recorded as aged 22 and single.

Walter re-enlisted on 10th December 1915. His attestation papers give his age as 29 yrs and 192 days. These papers say that he had been working as a coalman, that he had married Kathleen Green at Leamington Registry Office on 31st January 1914 and that he had two daughters: Hilda Gladys born 5th March 1914 in Burton Green and Kathleen Maud born 17th December 1910 in Kenilworth (when Walter was serving in Africa). They also say that he had served 6 years and 6 months in the Hussars.

The military records show that Kathleen re-married (to William Henry Betts) on 24th May 1919, having moved to Warwick at some point since the outbreak of war.  It was Kathleen who applied for Walter’s name to be included on Warwick War Memorial and he is also commemorated at Wellesbourne where his family ties are stronger.