Prescot Roll of Honour

Walter OSWICK

5, Cook Street, Prescot

Private 2061, 5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment

The 1911 census showed Walter as a 20 year old Boarder at 21, Bretherton Road, Prescot, the home of widowed Alice Bird. He was a Stable Groom at Knowsley Stables.

24 year old Walter, a native of Chelsea, attested for military service at St Helens on 5th August 1914, the day after war was declared. He gave his occupation as "Chauffeur" and his address as 15, Station Road, Prescot. This was the home of his father, also called Walter.

He went to Edinburgh with the 5th Bn of the South Lancs and then on 19th October 1914 he moved with them to Tunbridge Wells.

He remained in the UK until 15th February 1917, when he sailed from Southampton to le Havre. He was then renumbered as part of the Territorial Force renumbering exercise, becoming Private 240391.

On 10th April 1918, he was wounded and admitted to 33 Casualty Clearing Station. The War Diary for that date reads, "At 4:15 a.m. a very heavy bombardment and at 5:30 a.m. the order BUSTLE arrived. A & C Coys under Major Pilkington, DCO, moved to an assembly position N.W. of GORRE and the remainder of the Battn took up positions on the LE PREOL N. locality. Both parties had casualties when moving to the new positions, Shell fire all day. A & C Coys came under the command of 165 Bde and B & D Coys under the command of 164 Bde. A & C Coys moved up practically to LOISNE CENTAL which was occupied by 1 1/2 Coys of the 1/10 KLR."

In November 1918, he was suffering from influenza and was once again admitted to hospital.

Walter was demobilised on 3rd June 1919. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, receiving these in February 1922. Sadly, he died in March 1923, at the reported age of 31.