George Albert Waltham
Date of death: 13.4.1918
Area: Crofton
Regiment: King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Family information: Son of George and Bessie E Waltham of Avenue Buildings, Crofton
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service number: 201801
War Service
There was no difficulty identifying the Waltham brothers. Lance Corporal George Albert was among the first to be found in the KOYLI casualty lists and similarly Private Nathan also turned up. Both men served with KOYLI and were killed in action in France/Flanders. George Albert Waltham died on 13th April 1918 aged 22. He was in the 1st/4th Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
It was not until their Great Niece, Mrs Glynnis Cooper of Crofton, confirmed their story that it was realised that they were brothers. Reference to their baptisms was found in the Parish Registers but some confusion arose because there were two entries about Nathan. Mrs Cooper was able to clarify this by reporting that after the War two new little brothers were born to the Waltham family. One was named Albert and the other Nathan.
George and Nathan had a younger sister called Annie (Mrs Annie Reeves nee Waltham of Mansfield) who was interviewed about her brothers. She remembered her father crying when George was killed. She also remembered standing in a frosty field off The Avenue watching a German airship go over. She said that George and Nathan were the eldest of a large family.
George Albert Waltham is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Tyne Cot Memorial
