First World War Soldier buried in Newchurch Graveyard.
How is it that a first World War Soldier is buried in Newchurch Graveyard far from the conflict? Some soldiers recovering from illness or injury were often deployed to the Labour Corps to support farms carrying out agricultural work during the latter years of the war. There is no information on the cause of his death but it is likely he must have died during his time here on one of our local farms. Read his story below :
Walter James Wickens was born in Horsted Keynes Sussex in 1883, the son of William and Harriet Wickens. Walter's father was a farm labourer and young Walter was to later follow his father in this occupation.
Walter married Florence Ada Francis at the Parish Church of Horsted Keynes on 22nd August 1903 and between 1904 and 1914 they had four children together; Walter Douglas, Nellie Francis, Clifford Hugh and Cyril Arthur.
At some time during WWI, Walter enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment, but full details aren't available (40% of infantry records were destroyed by fire at Somerset House during WWII).
He was transferred to the 425th company Labour Corps in the latter years of the war. From 1917 to 1918, some soldiers recovering from illness or wounds were often deployed to the Labour Corps, to support farms carrying out agricultural work, labour being extremely scarce. At the time of his death, Walter, possible with his family, had been residing at Gammons Farm, Newchurch c/o Mrs Blacklocks so we can surmise with some certainty, this was his connection with Newchurch.
On 8th December 1918, just a few weeks after Armistice Day, he died from pneumonia at the VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) at Ashford Hospital having succumbed to influenza. He was buried in the churchyard of SS Peter and Paul at Newchurch and his is the only Commonwealth War Grave at that site.