Walter Breed was born in Hemel Hempstead in January 1880 the youngest son and child of Joshua Breed and Mary Ann Smith. Walter had four older siblings who were: William, Ann Maria, Eliza Ellen and Elizabeth Sarah. When he was born the family lived in Piccott’s End in houses known as ‘Front Cottages’ from where his father Joshua laboured on a nearby farm and his mother Mary Ann worked as a ‘Straw Plaiter’.

Walter grew up in Piccott’s End and when he left school in 1893 he started work as a ‘Labourer’. It is not known what type of labouring job this was, but we know that Walter worked for a Mr Bailey and this could have been William Thomas Bailey, a local Farmer or Joseph Bailey joint owner of the agricultural implement makers ‘Davis and Bailey’ situated on Marlowes in Hemel Hempstead.

Whatever his job was, Walter like many men at the time joined the Militia to supplement his wages. On the 12th December 1897, just before his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted with the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. On his Service Record Walter is described as being 5ft 5ins tall, with a ‘Fresh’ complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. His religion is recorded as ‘Baptist’ and we know that he was an active member of the congregation at Marlowes Baptist Church.

His time in the Army did not last for long and in June 1898, six months after enlisting, he was discharged on payment of £1.0.0. This may have been due to the fact he had found more lucrative work because, in 1901 Walter is boarding with the Halsey family on Sotheron Road in Watford and working as a ‘Warehouseman’ in the nearby sausage factory, possibly Gibson’s on Vicarage Road.

Sometime after moving to Watford to work, Walter met Fannie Francis who had moved to the town from Surrey to work as a ‘Cook’ in domestic service and the young couple became sweethearts. They were married on Saturday, 9th September 1905 at Mount Zion Baptist Chapel on Queen’s Street in Watford.

The young newly-weds moved into 3 Vale Road where their first two children were born, Minnie Frances Nicholls in 1906 and William Walter two years later in 1908. Their next child Harry was born in 1909 when they had moved to 97 Liverpool Road before they finally settled at 109 St James’ Road in Watford where the youngest child Walter was born in 1913.

Walter volunteered for service under the ‘Derby Scheme’ attesting at Watford in December 1915 before being called up in May 1916 when he was posted to1/4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He went to Ipswich to undergo basic training and in November 1916 Walter was sent to France.

The 4th Suffolks were under the orders of the 98th Brigade in the 33rd Division and on arriving in France it moved south to Huchenneville close to Abbeville where the unit continued to train. Walter saw his first action in December in the trenches at Buchavesnes south of Arras. By the start of January 1917, the Battalion had a period of relaxation and for a number of days engaged in various religious and sporting activities. These began with a Church service on the 7th January followed two days later by a football match in which the 4th Suffolks lost 4-1 to the 1st Middlesex Regiment. On the 11th January twenty-four of the Suffolks competed in a Brigade cross-country race which was won by Sgt. V.S. Grey from the Battalion.

By April 1917 the Suffolks were preparing for the next phase of the Arras Offensive and on the 23rd Walter went into action with his Battalion in the Second Battle of the Scarpe. The assault lasted for two days and the fighting was tough and progress slow due to stern enemy resistance and counter attacks. 

The casualties incurred were the most significant since Walter had arrived at the Front and by the end of the first day the Battalion War Diary recorded the following: “April 23rd Killed 2nd Lieut. H.W WOODS and 41 O.R. Wounded: Capt. J.C. RASH 2ND Lieuts. R.W. WOLTON; A.W.HARE; F DALLIMER; D.GLEN; B.C.RIGBY; B.S.EVANS; S.C.WILLIAMS and 160 O.R.   Missing 104 O.R.”

Walter was one of the unfortunate soldiers listed as ‘Missing’ and he was subsequently confirmed ‘Killed’. He died on Monday, 23rd April 1917.

His death was reported briefly in the Hemel Gazette seven months later when his fate had been confirmed.

He was commemorated on a plaque inside Marlowes Baptist Church where he had worshipped as a young man before moving to Watford.

Walter is Remembered with Honour on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France, Bay 4.

He was 37 years old when he died.

Walter was entitled to the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.