Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Braithwaite a Great Northern Railway platelayer, born 1852 in Barkestone, Leics., and his wife Mary Ann, born 1853 in Redmile, Leics. Walter Lowe Braithwaite was born in 1889 in Redmile, Leics., his siblings were Eliza A., born 1873 and John, born 1875, both siblings were born in Redmile, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at West Side Street, Redmile, Leics. In March 1901 Walter was residing in the family home at Main Street, Redmile, Leics., together with his father, now an ironstone miner, his mother and siblings, John and Frances, born 1895 in Redmile, Leics., also residing with the family was his paternal nephew Walter Braithwaite, born 1891 in Redmile, Leics. In April 1911 Walter was employed as an ironstone labourer and was residing in the family home at Redmile, Leics., together with his wife of one year, Ethel A., born 1893 in Barkestone, Leics., and their daughter Doris, born 1911 in Redmile, Leics. The War Diary for the 11th January 1917 records. At 6.15am on the morning of the 11th January 1917, the Battalion formed up to make an attack on MUNICH TRENCH, at 6.37am a barrage commenced, and at this time about 50 casualties occurred including Lt. (Temporary Captain) E. BELL (Officer Commanding “C” Company) wounded. 2nd Lt. B. F. RITSON wounded, 2nd Lt. D. M. CHAMBERS wounded, 2nd Lt. T. W. DOKE slightly wounded. At 6.45am the assault commenced and the line advanced in good order but as soon as the line of MUNICH TRENCH was reached the ground became in places impassable, many men becoming bogged. The attack was pressed on and the left Company (“C” Company) reached MUNICH TRENCH only to find it obliterated. The right Company (“D” Company), passed over MUNICH TRENCH and took up a position in shell holes where they dug in. The consolidation of the position was carried on throughout the day with great vigour and determination in spite of the casualties from snipers and machine gun fire. It was decided to push forward a series of strong posts in order to get as much command as possible, but some difficulty was experienced in finding dry islands in the morass. Occupied German dug outs were suspected and a strong patrol was sent out to look for them, but failed to locate any within the limits of the patrol.