WALTERS, George

George Walters was the younger son of John and Lucy Walters who lived at 15 Field Lane, Oldswinford. He attended Oldswinford CE School and became a frost cog maker, probably at the Field Lane works. He volunteered in August 1914 at the age of 18 for the Worcester Territorials. He joined the 1/7th Battalion in the 48th (South Midland) Division. The Battalion crossed to France in March 1915 and spent most of 1915 on the Western Front in Artois. In 1916 they were fully engaged in the great Somme battle. On the 1st July they were in the second wave due to follow through at 9.30 but because of the disaster which befell the first wave they were sent back to their starting point. For the second phase on the 14th July the Territorials were in the front line for the attack on Ovillers, and helped to capture the ruined village. In the next attack the battalion suffered more casualties and among them was Private George Walters who was killed in action on the 21st August. He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval,Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.