Waddington, Walter Charles

BORN HULL 24/01/1894. ELDEST SON OF ERNEST WASSINGTON (1870-1923) & ADA MARY COOKE, OF 29, DUESBURY STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). SON OF A STAIONER. BROTHERS ERNEST & ARNOLD AND OLDER SISTER BERTHA.. EDUCATED AT HYMERS COLLEGE. WORKED AS A COOK (1911 CENSUS) AND WAS EMPLOYED WITH MESSRS, HODGSON, HARRS & CO, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS.

HE ENLISTED INTO THE HULL COMMERCIALS, IN SEPTEMBER 1914. SERVED AS PRIVATE, 10/411, 10TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, IN EGYPT AND FRANCE. PROMOTED TO CORPORAL. INVALIDED FROM FRANCE TO ENGLAND IN 1917, WITH TRENCH FEVER. COMMISSIONED AS SECOND LIEUTENANT, INTO THE 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE BATTALION, IN DECEMBER 1917. POSTED TO FRANCE, IN APRIL 1918. WOUNDED IN THE THIGH AND CAPTURED, ON THE 27/05/1918. HE DIED OF WOUNDS, AS A GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR, ON 03/07/1918, AGED 24. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 07/08/1918. HIS NAME IS LISTED ON HULL’S HYMER COLLEGE WAR MEMORIAL
HE IS BURIED AT NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY, KASSEL. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION READS, “FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING”.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.