Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edwin Hamson, a railway labourer, born on the 29th May 1851 in Thrussington, Leicestershire (son of William Hamson, 1823-1917 and Letitia Bates, 1826-1885) and his wife, Sarah Ann Hamson (nee Newton, married on the 26th May 1874 in St. Andrew’s Church, Burton Overy, Leicestershire), born on the 26th July 1851 in Burton Overy and baptised on the 22nd February 1852 in St. Andrew’s Church, Burton Overy (daughter of John Newton, 1820-1881 and Elizabeth Grewcock, 1822-1904). Walter, a schoolboy, was born in the April quarter of 1885 and baptised on the 5th July 1885 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Mary Elizabeth, a hosiery trade worker, born on the 13th October 1874 and baptised on the 16th May 1875 in St. Andrew’s Church, Burton Overy, Jannet, a hosiery trade worker, born in the January quarter of 1876, Edith, a hosiery trade worker, born on the 20th March 1877 and baptised on the 15th April 1877 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, John Edwin, a schoolboy, born on the 13th February 1879 and baptised on the 16th March 1879 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Emily, a schoolgirl, born on the 14th March 1882 and baptised on the 7th May 1882 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston and Mabel, born on the 1st September 1888 and baptised on the 7th October 1888 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, all his siblings were born in Syston, in April 1891 the family home was at Peter Street, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Walter was employed as an iron foundry fitter and was residing in the family home at St. Peter Street, Syston, together with his father, a railway labourer, his mother and siblings, Mary Elizabeth, a hosiery trade worker, Edith, a hosiery trade worker, John Edwin, a painter, Emily, a hosiery trade worker, Mabel, Harry, born in the July quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 2nd August 1891 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston and Ethel May, born on the 13th May 1893 and baptised on the 2nd July 1893 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, the latter two siblings were both born in Syston. Walter’s father died on the 4th December 1901, in Syston, aged 50. In April 1911 Walter was employed as a general labourer and was residing in the family home at High Street, Syston, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Mary, a hosiery trade worker, Ethel, a shorthand typist and Harry, a general labourer. Walter’s younger brother Harry, also fell in action.
Walter’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regiment. Private, date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 20513.
Posted. To 6th (Service) Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France on the 22nd December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field on the 9th August 1917.
Buried in H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Walter nominated his widowed mother, Sarah Ann as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 9 Aug-17 - MOYENVILLE. Battalion relieved the 1st LINCOLNSHIRE REGT. in the front line starting from C Camp MOYENVILLE at 1.00pm and marching via ST. LEGER and CROISILLES. Relief complete at 6.30pm. Battalion frontage NELLY AVENUE (exclusive) to the SENSEE RIVER (inclusive). B Company in NELLY AVENUE (exclusive) to PLUM LANE (inclusive). C Company in LUMP LANE. D Company in HIND TRENCH from LUMP LANE (exclusive) to SENSEE RIVER (inclusive) with standing patrol in SHAFT TRENCH by night from LUMP LANE to the SENSEE RIVER. 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY on left.