Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 241648 Walter Harding Moses
- Age: 20
- From: Wrexham, N.Wales
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
- K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
- Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23
Walter Harding Moses was born on 16th February 1898, in Adwy, Wrexham, the son of Edgar Moses and his wife Josephine Ellen (née Harding). Edgar, from St. John’s, New Brunswick, Canada, and Josephine, born in Liverpool, married in 1887 in the Independent Church, Rock Ferry and had three sons. Walter had an older brother James Edwin, born in Rock Ferry in 1888, and a twin brother Malcolm Harding. His father had lived in England since at least his teens, and before Walter’s birth had been a confectioner and restaurant proprietor. At some point he became a pastor.
The Liverpool Mercury reported in February 1897: “The Rev. Edgar Moses, formerly of Rock Ferry, has resigned his ministry as pastor of the Adwyrellawdd English Congregational Church, near Wrexham.
In 1901 the family is living at 10 Ruabon Road, Wrexham. His father, 39, is a Congregational (minister)/ insurance manager. His mother is 34, James is 13, Walter and Malcolm are 3.
By 1911 they have moved to Liverpool, and are at 82 Allington Street, Toxteth Park. His mother, 43, is head of household, she advised that she had been married for 24 years, and had 3 children all of whom are declared at home; James is 23, a letterpress machine man, Walter and Malcolm are 13 and at school. His father is not in the household; he is found on later crew lists as Captain’s servant on the S.S. Scandinavian and the Empress of Britain, on the Liverpool-New York/ Montreal run, in 1917-18 and 1922.
By 1911 they have moved to Liverpool, and are at 82 Allington Street, Toxteth Park. His mother, 43, is head of household, she advised that she had been married for 24 years, and had 3 children all of whom are declared at home; James is 23, a letterpress machine man, Walter and Malcolm are 13 and at school. His father is not in the household; he is found on later crew lists as Captain’s servant on the S.S. Scandinavian and the Empress of Britain, on the Liverpool-New York/ Montreal run, in 1917-18 and 1922.
His mother died in 1913, aged 45, leaving her effects (£82) to son James and William A. Wynne, chemist. It appears the boys lived with their uncle or maternal grandmother in Rock Ferry after their mother died. It also appears that Walter went to sea, like his father, for a short time, as he is commemorated on the Cunard Memorial, although he has not been found on any crew lists.
Walter enlisted in Liverpool as Rifleman 4382 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Southampton-Rouen on 18th March 1916, reaching the 55 Division Base Depot on 19th March. His twin brother Malcolm also enlisted at 17 in the 6th Bn K.L.R. in November 1915, giving his age as 19 years and two months. He is described as having a fair complexion, with grey eyes, and light brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his uncle, William A. Wynne of Bedford Road, Rock Ferry.
He was admitted to the British General Hospital with German Measles on 21st March 1916, and was discharged and joined 55 Division Base Depot on 31st March. He left base for the front on 12th May 1916, temporarily attached to 9/KLR on 20th May. He rejoined the 6/KLR on 25th May and was admitted to 2/1 Field Ambulance with I.C.T. leg the same day, he was subsequently moved to 13 Corps Rest Station on 26th May.
By the summer of 1916 the battalion was in France and saw action at the Battle of the Somme: In September at the Battle of Guillemont from 4th-6th, at Guinchy on the 9th, Flers-Courcelette 17th - 22nd, and Morval 25th - 28th September. The battalion moved to Flanders in October and took over the front line between Wieltje and Railway Wood.
He was wounded in action on 24th September 1916 and was admitted to 36 Casualty Clearing Station with a GSW to the head and shoulder on 25th September. He was transferred to 4 General Hospital on 26th September and returned aboard the Hospital ship Panama to England on 28th September 1916.
Walter enlisted in Liverpool as Rifleman 4382 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Southampton-Rouen on 18th March 1916, reaching the 55 Division Base Depot on 19th March. His twin brother Malcolm also enlisted at 17 in the 6th Bn K.L.R. in November 1915, giving his age as 19 years and two months. He is described as having a fair complexion, with grey eyes, and light brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his uncle, William A. Wynne of Bedford Road, Rock Ferry.
He was admitted to the British General Hospital with German Measles on 21st March 1916, and was discharged and joined 55 Division Base Depot on 31st March. He left base for the front on 12th May 1916, temporarily attached to 9/KLR on 20th May. He rejoined the 6/KLR on 25th May and was admitted to 2/1 Field Ambulance with I.C.T. leg the same day, he was subsequently moved to 13 Corps Rest Station on 26th May.
By the summer of 1916 the battalion was in France and saw action at the Battle of the Somme: In September at the Battle of Guillemont from 4th-6th, at Guinchy on the 9th, Flers-Courcelette 17th - 22nd, and Morval 25th - 28th September. The battalion moved to Flanders in October and took over the front line between Wieltje and Railway Wood.
He was wounded in action on 24th September 1916 and was admitted to 36 Casualty Clearing Station with a GSW to the head and shoulder on 25th September. He was transferred to 4 General Hospital on 26th September and returned aboard the Hospital ship Panama to England on 28th September 1916.
Walter and his brother Malcolm were both reported Wounded, published in the Liverpool Post & Mercury on 31st October 1916.
It is likely that Walter was transferred to the 17th Battalion K.L.R after recovering from his wounds, and given the regimental number 241648.
It is likely that Walter was transferred to the 17th Battalion K.L.R after recovering from his wounds, and given the regimental number 241648.
In early 1917 the Pals battalions move to Arras. In May the fighting around Arras grinds to a halt and the Pals battalions begin the march north to the Ypres Salient. The Third Battle of Ypres begins on 31st July and lasts until November.
In the new year the battalion moves south and takes up position near St. Quentin. The German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael), the German push to end the war, begins on 21st March. The Pals battalions, in Corps Reserve, receive orders at 5 a.m. to man battle stations.
At the time of his death on 22nd March, the 17th Battalion had been ordered to the defence of the area around Atilly, to try to counter the rapid German advance. At 6.30 am ’D’ Company was sent to help the 2/5th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment to counter attack the Germans in the area of Holnon Wood, which it did successfully. Four hours later, the Battalion was ordered to move to a position know as Aviation Wood, to join the Headquarters of the 21st Brigade, but because of heavy shellfire, this move took four hours, and by the time the 17th Battalion had got there, the HQ and staff of the Brigade had gone. Then, as the Germans were making a strong attack at nearby Flesquires, the Battalion deployed around the wood. Eventually at 18.30 orders were received that all 30th Division troops had to withdraw to Ham, and the Battalion accordingly pulled back, reaching the town at around 21.30.
He was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918 aged 20 during the German Spring Offensive.
At the time of his death on 22nd March, the 17th Battalion had been ordered to the defence of the area around Atilly, to try to counter the rapid German advance. At 6.30 am ’D’ Company was sent to help the 2/5th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment to counter attack the Germans in the area of Holnon Wood, which it did successfully. Four hours later, the Battalion was ordered to move to a position know as Aviation Wood, to join the Headquarters of the 21st Brigade, but because of heavy shellfire, this move took four hours, and by the time the 17th Battalion had got there, the HQ and staff of the Brigade had gone. Then, as the Germans were making a strong attack at nearby Flesquires, the Battalion deployed around the wood. Eventually at 18.30 orders were received that all 30th Division troops had to withdraw to Ham, and the Battalion accordingly pulled back, reaching the town at around 21.30.
He was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918 aged 20 during the German Spring Offensive.
Walter was initially declared Missing.
His family placed an appeal in the Liverpool Echo in 8th May 1918:
“Private W. H. Moses, D Company, 17th Battalion K.L.R., is posted “missing” since March 23rd. - Any information to 165 Bedford Road, Rock Ferry, will be greatly appreciated.” (This was the address of his maternal grandmother.)
His family placed an appeal in the Liverpool Echo in 8th May 1918:
“Private W. H. Moses, D Company, 17th Battalion K.L.R., is posted “missing” since March 23rd. - Any information to 165 Bedford Road, Rock Ferry, will be greatly appreciated.” (This was the address of his maternal grandmother.)
His uncle, W. A. Wynne, at 206 Bedford Road, Rock Ferry, enquired with the International Red Cross in the hopes that Walter had been taken prisoner. He received a negative reply on 28th May 1918.
Walter's death was later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on or since 22nd March 1918, he was 20 years of age. His body was never recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Pozières Memorial, Somme, France.
The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.
The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.
It is not known when his family was officially informed of his fate. His Army effects and War Gratuity of £14-10s went to his brother James. No pension card has been found.
Malcolm served with the 6th Bn K.L.R., was transferred to the 17th, and ended the war with the R.A.S.C. He served in France, was twice wounded in action, and discharged in March 1919, receiving a disability pension (gunshot wound thigh) and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He re-enlisted in the 6th K.L.R. (Territorials) in 1922, at which time his grandmother, Mrs. Ann Harding, 165 Bedford Road, Rock Ferry, was his next of kin. He served until 1936. He married, lived in Liverpool, and died in 1962.
His elder brother James Edwin served in the R.A.M.C. He died in 1921, aged 32.
His father died, aged 72, in Liverpool in 1935.
His elder brother James Edwin served in the R.A.M.C. He died in 1921, aged 32.
His father died, aged 72, in Liverpool in 1935.
Walter is commemorated on the following Memorials;
St. Michael in the Hamlet Plaque
St. Michael in the Hamlet with St. Andrews Church
Cunard Steamship Company Roll of Honour
We currently have no further information on Walter Harding Moses, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Walter's service with the 6th Rifles.
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