Walter Edward Sale

WWI Roll of Honour

By Lynette Wray

Walter Edward Sale

Military History:        

Regiment:                               Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry

Rank:                                      Sergeant

Service Number:                    72

Date of Enlisting:                   1.4.1903

Date of death:                        3.1982

Cemetery/ Memorial:            Not known

UK Cemetery/Memorial:       Not known

Walter enlisted with the Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry Territorial Force on 1st April 1903, Regimental Number 390.  He was promoted to Sergeant in May 1908. He stayed at home on the farm in Hinxworth all the time he was in the Territorial Force, re-enlisting year by year and spending one month per year in military camp.  He was re-engaged with the Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry in April 2014 with Regimental Number 72 and was mobilised to France in June 1915.  Walter saw active service in the Western European Theatre of War, France and Flanders.

Walter survived the war and returned to Hinxworth and died in March 1982.

Walter was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal, the 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Silver Badge.

Family History:

Date of Birth:                10.11.1883

Birth Place:                   Hinxworth, Hertfordshire

Residence:                    Hinxworth, Hertfordshire

Marriage:                      4th quarter 1917

Walter was the fourth son of John and Elizabeth (nee Sale) Sale of Hinxworth born on 11th November 1883.  Before enlisting he was working as a farmer on the family farm in Hinxworth, Hertfordshire.

Walter married Nellie May Cutress in the 4th quarter of 1917.  They had three children, Walter John born on 16th August 1918, Kathleen Elizabeth May born on 5th May 1920, and Michael Edward Francis born on 19th September 1926.

The Ashwell museum holds a suit made for Walter to wear at Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 when he was about 5 years old.

Walter died at Hinxworth in March of 1982.

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