Cpl Walter William Hartwell 7th Battalion 1914-1917

[smith1944]

Hi - I am doing my family tree and my Uncle named above was killed in France & Flanders in 1917. He came from the Kidderminster Area and received medals for his service but my mother now deceased never seemed to have any details about him as she was only 9 when he was killed. My mother used to get upset around remembrance time and we used to talk about Walter but now I have managed to find out in family history details of his birth, death etc. What I have found is that he is on the wall of remembrance at Tyne Cot Cemetery and I have a photo of his name and the Cemetery which I obtained through Commonwealth War Graves Commission having sent them a donation with thanks. What I would love to know is there anyone out there who would have a photo of the joining up lads. He was with the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and on the website are photos of this regiment but because I do not have photos of him I am unable to recognise him.

Please help me finish my picture of Walter.

Hazel

[Kevin Lynott]

Hazel,
William was born in Kidderminster and resident there when he enlisted. I have carried out some research on the names recorded on the memorial. For some reason Walters name is not on the Kidderminster memorial. I have compiled a list of Kidderminster men whose names were not recorded on the memorial. Recently I have forwarded the list to a group who are preparing a roll of honour based on the the names recorded on the memorial and they will also include the men on the list I have supplied them with.

Walters name is on the list, I have the following piece of information recorded against his name "He was married to Nettie and had five sisters called Ethel,Ida, Gladys, Doris and Lillian." Lilian was your mother I presume?

Regards
Kevin

[smith1944]

Hi Kevin

Thank you so much for the information. My mother was Jessie Dorothy Mabel Hartwell and I can only assume on the census she was called Doris. I thought Walter was married as Nettie appeared on a census in the family home as Wife as well as my grandmother being listed as wife to his Father also Walter.

I have seen his name on the roll of the Worcestershire Regiment which was a nice thing to find. The other persons named as his sisters were my Mothers sisters so that all ties up nicely but I am unsure about the Doris part - I was not aware of her as I say unless my mother was called Doris - she was always known as Dorothy to my father and everyone else.

Again if you have any more information please keep me posted. Do you have a maiden name for Nettie!

Regards
Doreen

[allanp]

Hi Hazel

I have found this reference in the Worcester Herald.

29th September 1917 edition
Killed
201247 Act Cpl W. W. Hartwell – Kidderminster

Regards Allan

[smith1944]

Hi Allan

Thank you so much for that information are you able to send a copy of the cutting - if so that would be great - I am getting more information each day so this is good for me to be able to piece things together for my family's future.

Many thanks
Hazel

[allanp]

Hi Hazel

Send me your email address and I will send you a copy of the entry.

Regards Allan

[smith1944]

Hi Allan

Many thanks for that - my email address is doreenkitchener@gmail.com

Regards

Doreen

[smith1944]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all your help in finding out more information regarding my Uncle named above. I now only want to see if we can find a picture of those who went off to France with him. Various pictures appear in the Gallery of those in the 7th Battalion but as I do not have a picture I do not know what he looked like. Any reference to his name or identity on pictures would make my history complete of Walter.

Hazel

[lazydaisy]

Hi

Cpl Walter William Hartwell's name is one of thirteen listed on the memorial just inside the door of the New Meeting House, Church Street, Kidderminster.
Google kidderminster-unitarians.org.uk for details of the New meeting House.

Would you like a photograph of the memorial? I could take one during the week.

Happy to be of help.

Kate

[lazydaisy]

Hi, me again.

I have been doing a little research into the names on the New Meeting House memorial.

Walter William Hartwell was born in 1893 in Kidderminster, the son of Walter Hartwell, a carpet weaver, and his wife Lilian.
He married Genetta M Webb in the June quarter of 1915 in Kidderminster.

Kate

[lazydaisy]

Me yet again.

Have found more information at the New meeting House and an awful (think photocopied) photo.

Kate

[smith1944]

Hello Kate

Thank you so much for the research. Yes I would love a photo of Walter Hartwell. His father was my grandfather on my mother's side and I never met any of them as they died just as I was born and after. I have photos of my grandfather and Walter's sisters so to complete my family album would be great. I have managed to find that Genetta married some 2 years after Walter was killed.

Yes please let me have a photo. I would gladly reimburse you for the film.

Take care and thank you again

Hazel

[lazydaisy]

Me again again

I have discovered "New Meeting Church Kidderminster, First World War Memorial" on the bookshelves there. It's pretty amateurish and looks to have been written in the early days of computers by a couple of members of the congregation.

It would be easier to email the relevant pages if that's OK

My email is kate@gandkallan.plus.com