BURROWS, Walter

Walter Burrows was the son of Walter and Eliza Burrows of New Street, Wollaston. He was employed as a striker at the glass house in King William Street, Amblecote. When his first wife died, he married Annie Belcher in 1909 and by 1914 they had three children and were living at 7 Gladstone Road. He volunteered in October 1914 and joined the Worcesters. In December he was sent to the 3rd Battalion who were in the front line at Spanbroek Mill south of Ypres. The first British attack of Spring 1915 was at Neuve Chapelle, some 20 miles to the south. In order to assist this operation the 3rd Division was ordered by Sir John French to mount a diversionary attack on Spanbroek Mill on the 12th March. The 3rd Worcesters were to lead the attack of the 7th Brigade at dawn. The plan was held up because of dense mist and in the waiting period German shelling of the British trenches caused many casualties. At 4.10 from waterlogged trenches A and C companies moved slowly up towards the ridge. Suffering heavy losses some troops managed to reach a few gaps in the German wire and to enter the enemy trenches. Although the German counter-attacks were held, the British artillery started shelling the German trenches again without realising where the British troops were located. The survivors, including wounded, had to make their own way back to the British lines after nightfall. The losses amounted to 9 officers and 38 men killed, 32 missing, mainly killed, and 99 wounded, a heavy price to pay for a diversionary attack. Private Walter Burrows was one of those killed in action. He was 37 years of age and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Stourbridge, Amblecote church, Wollaston church and St. Thomas's church Memorials.