Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Allen, a blacksmith, born 1864 in Glen Magna, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Allen (formerly Haywood, nee Smith married in the 3rd quarter of 1890 in the Leicester district), born 1866 in Frankton, Warwickshire. Walter Smith was born in the 4th quarter of 1893 in Glen Magna, his siblings were, Florence Edith, born 1892 and Leonard William, born 1899, both his siblings were born in Glen Magna, also residing with the family was Walter’s maternal uncle, Leonard P. Smith, a blacksmith’s assistant, born 1881 in Birdingbury, Warwickshire, in March 1901 the family home was at Top End, Great Glen, Glen Magna. In April 1911 Walter was employed as an office clerk and was residing in the family home at Glen Magna together with his father, a blacksmith, his mother and siblings, Florence, a dressmaker and Leonard, a schoolboy.
The War Diary records: 21 Mar-18 – ERVILLERS. Afternoon: Transport moved to COURCELLES, thence to camp at F.17.d.22.
Report on operations for night 20/21st March onwards.
Reference Map. 57.C.N.W.2. 1/10,000.
In writing the account of the above action, difficulty is at once encountered, owing to the fact that all records including War Diary, Defence schemes, and Operation Orders were lost.
Indeed the only information available is that afforded by messages sent to the Brigade Headquarters during the action, and the statements of the four men who were the only survivors.
On the night of March 20/21st, the 59th Division was holding the front line of the right flank of the 6th Corps round BULLECOURT. The 178th Infantry Brigade was holding the right forward sector, with the 7th Sherwood’s on the right front, 2/6th Sherwood’s on the left front, and the 2/5th Sherwood’s in support immediately North of the village of NOREUIL, the latter under the command of Lieutenant Colonel H. R. Gadd, M.C., with Major R. C. Trench as second in command.
DISPOSITIONS.
Battalion Headquarters in the sunken road running from NOREUIL to LONGATTE about C.9.d.8.5. The remainder of the Battalion in the trenches and sunken road round about IGAREE Corner at C.10.C.6.9.
An attack by the enemy in force had been expected for some days past.
At about 4.30am on the morning of March 21st, the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment on the whole area with Gas Shells. Gas masks were immediately put on, and the Companies moved out to their stand-to positions:-
RIGHT FRONT:- “B” Company to NOREUIL SWITCH round C.5.C.4.4.
LEFT FRONT:- “A” Company to SYDNEY AVENUE round C.4.d.8.0.
SUPPORT COMPANY:- “D” Company to DEWSBURY TRENCH round C.10.B.7.4.
RESERVE COMPANY:- “C” Company to Sunken Road round C.9.d.8.5.
NARRATIVE.
At 5.00am the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment with High Explosive.
The following messages were received at Brigade Headquarters:-
Message by runner from 2/5th Sherwood’s sent off at 7.05am. “In communication with both front Battalions, who report shelling general, but not very heavy AAA All Battalions are being gassed AAA Greater part of shelling going West of NOREUIL – LONGATTE Road AAA No sign of hostile attack as yet AAA”
Message by runner timed 8.30am “Hostile shelling still heavy, but gassing has ceased AAA Casualties do not appear to be heavy, but this is uncertain AAA”
2nd Lieutenant Williamson, Liaison Officer with Brigade Headquarters went forward and sent back the following message by runner, timed 9.45am. “Heavy Shelling of front line 2nd System, apparently from QUEANT and HENDECOURT AAA NOREUIL Valley heavily shelled AAA No aeroplane activity, and no machine gun fire. So far as can be ascertained the enemy barrage has not yet lifted from the front line.
Message from 5th Sherwood’s timed 10.40am, by runner states “Enemy reported to be about C.11.a.1.5. Enemy barrage on PONTEFRACT and DEWSBURY TRENCHES, and enemy advancing AAA Enemy also attacking near junction of ILKNEY SUPPORT, and HALIFAX AA
Further unconfirmed reports state:- Enemy have penetrated DEWSBURY AAA Am manning NOREUIL – LONGATTE Road, and ready to form defensive flanks to the right”
Message by runner from 2/5th Sherwood’s timed 12 noon:- “Situation as follows:- We are holding NOREUIL SWITCH from C.9.d.9.4. and road near Battalion Headquarters AAA Enemy have captured DEWSBURY and PONTEFRACT, and appear to be digging in AAA Have formed defensive flank down NOREUIL SWITH from C.9.d.9.4. Westwards. Enemy moving in large numbers along ridge C.17.C. AAA Am prolonging my line along road towards LONGATTE AAA Forces at my disposal estimated at 150. AAA
2nd Lieutenant Williamson &th S.F. returned to Brigade Headquarters at 1.00pm reported:- “at 10.15 when nearing the Battalion Headquarters enemy creeping barrage lifted on to the NOREUIL – LONGATTE Road” He remained at Headquarters until 12 noon, and then returned by NOREUIL Village and Valley, at which time the enemy were already in the village.
GENERAL.
The bombardment was apparently extremely heavy, commencing with gas shells and followed from 5.00am onwards with High Explosive.
The thickness of the fog made it extremely difficult for the men to see if the enemy were advancing, or whether our men were approaching.
The enemy appears to have pushed down the NOREUIL Valley in large numbers, and turning, to have attacked the Battalion on its flank.
From information gathered it is certain that the Battalion fought most gallantly, and the last message from Lieutenant Colonel Gadd bears this out.
CASUALTIES.

KILLED. Officers. 3.
Major C. R. C. Trench.
2nd Lieutenant F. Walters.
2nd Lieutenant C. R. Brandreth.
Other Ranks. 3.

MISSING BELIEVED KILLED. Officers. 1.
Captain R. J. Case.
Other Ranks. x 2.

WOUNDED & MISSING. Officers. 3.
Acting Captain H. Waterhouse.
Lieutenant R. E. E. Groner.
2nd Lieutenant P. A. Murphy.
Other Ranks. 8.

MISSING. Officers. 22.
Lieutenant Colonel H. R. Gadd. M.C.
Lieutenant P. S. Whiston.
Lieutenant F. H. Sutherland.
Lieutenant C. L. Wilkinson.
2nd Lieutenant A. H. Chambers.
2nd Lieutenant W. Hague.
2nd Lieutenant R. Stone.
2nd Lieutenant H. E. Barker.
2nd Lieutenant L. J. de Mauny.
2nd Lieutenant S. E. Grayson.
2nd Lieutenant G. A. Middlemiss.
2nd Lieutenant H. C. Pickhall.
2nd Lieutenant W. S. Allen.
2nd Lieutenant A. G. Robinson.
2nd Lieutenant C. M. Wright.
2nd Lieutenant W. W. Hacking.
2nd Lieutenant A. E. Silverwood.
2nd Lieutenant F. E. Andrews.
2nd Lieutenant A. J. Smith.
2nd Lieutenant J. W. Jage.
Captain Mearns. (R.A.M.C.)
Captain A. C. Judd. (Chaplain attached)
Other Ranks. 599.

WOUNDED. Officers. 2.
Captain T. Nadin. (Brigade Headquarters Staff)
Captain W. N. Wright. (Brigade Headquarters Staff)
Other ranks. 12.

SURVIVORS. Other Ranks. 4.