Walter John Vincent

Dorset Regiment

Personal Details

Born: 25 February 1884 in Acton Trussell, Staffordshire and baptised on 28 March the same year in the Parish Church of Acton Trussell.

Family: He was the sixth of eleven children of George Vincent, a farm bailiff, and his wife Susan. He married Amy Huxley on 30 August 1911 in St. Alkmund’s Parish Church, Whitchurch, Shropshire and together they had one child, Leslie.

Residence: The family were living in Acton Trussell at the time of his baptism; by 1891 they had moved to Crab Mill, Park Lane, Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, Wales. In 1901 and 1911 he was living in Chester Road, Churton by Aldford, Chester, Cheshire; in 1917 his address was Woodland, Penyffordd, Broughton, Flintshire. He was discharged to 4 St. Mary’s Street, Whitchurch in 1919 and in 1939 he was living at The Cottage, Red House, Hawarden, Flintshire.

Employment: In 1901 he was an agricultural labourer; in 1911 he was a domestic gardener. When he enlisted in 1917 he declared his occupation as gardener; by 1939 he had become a head gardener.

Died: In 1959 in Chester, aged 75.

Military Details

Regiment: Dorset Regiment (previously Yorkshire Regiment and Welsh Regiment)

Rank: Private

Service Number: 46733 (previously 34982 and 60366)

Date of Enlistment: 24 June 1916

Date of Discharge: 16 November 1919

Reason for Discharge: Demobilisation

Other Information: Walter was reported missing in action on 27 May 1918, taken prisoner of war and repatriated on 16 December 1918.

Medals and Awards

Vincent was awarded the Campaign Medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal).

Campaign Medals

Great War History Hub Whitchurch Shropshire Medals Front Image

The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.

The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.


 

 


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

We want to make sure you're human! * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.