Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Gladding, a railway passenger guard, born 1859 in Great Limber, Lincolnshire (son of Quickfall Gladding, 1822-1899 and Elizabeth Canty, 1835-1900) and his wife Sarah Ann Gladding (nee Hanson, married in the April quarter of 1888 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire), born in the January quarter of 1857 in Caistor, Lincolnshire (daughter of George Gale Hanson, 1831 and Anne French, 1828). Walter was born in the October quarter of 1889 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, in April 1891 the family home was at Willingham Street, Clee with Wheelsby, Caistor. In March 1901 Walter was residing in the family home at 260, Willingham Street, Grimsby, Clee, Lincolnshire, together with his father, a railway passenger guard, his mother and sibling, George Edward, born in the October quarter of 1891 in Grimsby. In April 1911 Walter was absent from the family home at 260, Willingham Street, Grimsby, Clee, residing there was his father, a railway passenger guard, his mother and brother George, an accountant’s clerk apprentice, meanwhile, Walter was employed as a clerk and was residing at Birstall Hill, Birstall, Leicestershire, this being the family home of his uncle Thomas James Goodacre, a baker and corn and flour merchant, born 1859 in Nottingham and his wife, Elizabeth Goodacre (nee Hanson), born 1859 in Caistor and their children, Tom Gate Hanson Goodacre, a clerk, born 1894 and Dorothy Frank Goodacre, born 1898, the latter two children were both born in Leicester. Walter’s father died on the 6th July 1916 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, aged 57 and his mother died on the 4th December 1922 in Cleethorpes, aged 66.
Walter enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 31st August 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 2430. He gave his place of birth as Grimsby, Lincolnshire and age as 24 years 9 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as clerk. He gave his present address as Northcole, Birstall Hill, Leicester.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 31st August 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 24 years 270 days and that he had a chest measurement of between 38 and 40 inches.
He gave his next of kin as his father, W. W. Gladding, 45, Wollaston Road, Cleethorpes.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Leicester. 31/8/14.
Posted. 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 31/8/14.
Embodied service commenced. Pte. 31/8/14.
Appointed. Lance Corporal. 22/10/14.
Promoted. Acting Corporal. 17/2/15.
Embarked. 1/3/15.
Landed. Le Havre. 2/3/15.
Promoted. Acting Sergeant (vice Sgt. Goodman to England). In the Field. 16/8/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 31/8/14 – 1/3/15. 183 days.
France. 2/3/15 – 13/10/15. 226 days.
Total Service. 1 year 44 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Walter’s surviving service record is in very poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of service.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Thursday, October 28th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Information has been received of the death of Sergeant WALTER GLADDING, 1/4th Leicester’s, who resided at Birstall, Leicester, and was killed in action on October 13th. Company Quartermaster Sergeant Leask, writing from France to the deceased soldier’s father, says: “It is with the utmost regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, and to return to you the sum of 20 francs, which he left in my keeping just before he went on what proved his last fight. A noble fellow ne was adored by the whole of the company. I personally feel his loss almost as great as your selves, because he was such a willing fellow. He would do anything to help anyone, and nothing was too much trouble for him, and his smile was a tonic for us all. I have met him with fatigue parties up in the trenches. He has come up to me when it rained, and was up to the ankles in mud, with the same old smile still there. He spent his last evening with me and the other sergeants, and I walked up to near the trenches they were to occupy on the night before he met his death. I am proud to know that I met him, and shall treasure his memory as that of a brother, although many years his senior, and “C” Company will always keep his memory green. Believe me that you have my heartfelt sympathy.”
On Tuesday, November 2nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. FALLEN LEICESTERS. – (A photograph accompanied the article) – Sergeant W. GLADDING, 4th Leicester’s. Lived at Birstall Hill, Leicester.