WATKINS, Walter Harold Victor

Walter Watkins was born in Stourbridge and was living in Birmingham when he volunteered for the Worcesters. He went to the 3rd Battalion which was deeply involved in all the main campaigns on the Western Front from 1914 to 1918. On the 21st March 1918 they were ordered to move forward to counter the first German Spring offensive which started at St. Quentin. Attempted counter-attacks failed and the Worcesters were driven back over the old Somme battlefield. They were transferred to Ploegsteert Wood where they faced the second German offensive on the Lys on the 9th April. Overwhelming German forces advanced and the Worcesters were forced to retire towards Kemmel. The enemy made a last effort on the 25th to seize the high ground and in order to prevent this threat the Worcesters undertook a night attack near the village. It was far from straightforward but the German plans were frustrated and this was the turning point of the battle. Losses were not high but among those killed in action on the 26th was Private Walter Watkins. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot and Lye and Wollescote Memorials.