WALTERS, Thomas H

Thomas Walters attended Oldswinford C. of E, school and was married to Mabel Walters of 8 Mount Street, Stourbridge. He was an early volunteer for Kitchener’s army and it is probable that he originally served in the 9th Worcesters They were sent to Gallipoli to reinforce the troops engaged against Turkey. They took part in the Suvla Bay landings of 6th August and were later evacuated to Egypt. The troops, however, were not to return to Europe and at some point, possibly after injury, Thomas Walters was transferred to the 4th South Wales Borderers in the same13th Division. They moved to Mesopotamia in an attempt to save the small British force surrounded at Kut el Amara on the river Tigris. The attack failed and any further attempt was put off until the cooler weather. The South Wales Borderers were directly involved in the major attack on 25 January 1917 and in the final assault on 15th February. Private Thomas Walters was killed in this final attack beside the waters of the Tigris three thousand miles from home. He was 30 years of age and is commemorated on the Basra, Stourbridge, Oldswinford, St. John’s church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.