Walter James Storey

Walter James was the son of Walter Willie and Hannah Storey (née Rowlston). His father Walter Willie Storey was born in about 1861 at Aldershot and his mother Hannah was born in Carlton in 1859, the daughter of Henry Kemp Rowlston and his wife Elizabeth. Walter and Hannah were married in 1885 (reg. Nottingham) and had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Their surviving children, who were born in Nottingham, were Albert Ernest b. 1884, Walter James birth registered 1889 (J/F/M) Harry b. 1891, Geoffrey Leonard b. 1893, Frank b. 1897 and Hannah Louisa b. 1901 (J/A/S). One of the children who died in infancy may have been Kathleen b. 1901 (J/A/S). The family was living at 28 Marple Street, Nottingham, in 1901 and they were still at the same address in 1911: Walter a house painter (own account) Hannah, Albert and Walter who were also house painters, Geoffrey a photographer's assistant, Harry a stoker (coal crushing) and Frank and Hannah who were still at school. Walter snr. died in October 1922 and his widow Hannah died at her married daughter's home at 122 Kent Road, Mapperley, in December 1930 (Hannah m. 1925 Claude Adkin, painter and decorator). Their son Frank, now married with two children, was still living at 28 Marple Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. At least two of Walter's brothers also served in the war, Geoffrey, who was killed in 1915, and Harry. Harry attested in 1914 and served initially in the Sherwood Foresters (20027) but later transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment (36250 Lance Serjeant). Service: Home 21 November 1914-16 December 1916. France 17 December 1916-30 July 1917. Home 31 July 1917-18 March 1918. (3y 118d) Harry suffered an injury to his right knee during physical drill/gymnastics and suffered recurrences of cartilege problems which necessitated hospital treatment both in the UK and in France. He was discharged on 18 March 1918 as no longer physically fit for War Service, home address 2 Tree Yard, Plumtree Street, Nottingham. Harry had married Sarah Jane Harvey at Nottingham St Mary in 1913 and they had at least four children: Cissie b. 1914, Harry b. 1917, Walter b. 1919 and Herbert b. 1923. Sarah Jane died in 1928 aged 34 and Harry died at Nottingham General Hospital in April 1929 aged 37. When the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled, one of their sons, Walter, was living with his married sister Cissie (m. 1932, William Heard) and two brothers, Harry and Herbert, were living with Margaret Harvey (b. 1875), a widow, who was probably their maternal grandmother.

In 1911 he was a house painter.

Enlisted Nottingham

1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Sergeant Walter James Storey was killed in action on 1st July 1916 in the attack on the German positions at Gommecourt, France, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. However, his death was not confirmed until June the following year. Walter has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A).

His brother Private Geoffrey Leonard Storey served with the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and was killed in action on 8th May 1915. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 30 June 1917: ‘Storey. Wounded and missing, July 1st, 1916, since reported killed, Sergeant W Storey, Sherwood Foresters. For England.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 2 July 1917: ‘Storey. Missing, July 1st, 1916, now reported killed, Sergt Walter Storey, Sherwood Foresters. Fondly remembered. Lizzie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 1 July 1918: ‘Storey. In loving memory of our son, Sergt. Walter Storey, Sherwood Foresters, killed July 1st 1916. For England.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) His parents also placed 'In Memoriam' notices in the Nottingham Evening Post in 1919, 1920 and 1921. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths,’ 3 April 1929: ‘Storey. On March 31st, Harry age 37, beloved husband of the late Cissy, at General Hospital suddenly. Interment Friday, 12 o’clock, Carlton.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths,’ 16 December 1930: ‘Storey, December 13th, at 122 Kent Road, Mapperley, Hannah, aged 72. Interment General Cemetery (top end), 2.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)