DUKE, Walter

Walter Duke was the son of Walter and Anne Duke and lived at 26 Summer Street, Kingswinford. His father had served in the Grenadier Guards and at the outbreak of war Walter followed his father by enlisting as a regular soldier. He joined the South Staffords and was posted to the 1st Battalion. They went to the Western Front in December 1914 and held the front line in Artois near Armentières. The first major offensive in March 1915 was at Neuve Chapelle, starting on the 10th March. They were in reserve for the three day battle but while in the line three days later he was killed by a sniper. Private Walter Duke was 19 years of age and is buried in Rue du Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, (Special Memorial 8) and commemorated on the Kingswinford Memorial.