Walter Douglas Gaulder

Rifleman, London Regiment

Age 15, Class VI B: 'Good at sport.'

Walter Douglas Gaulder was a student at Alleyn’s until 1901. During this time, he lived with his parents, Charles and Elizabeth, and his older brother. After leaving school, he found employment in the textiles industry as a manufacturer of blouses. In March 1916, Walter married his wife, Rosetta, and continued to work in manufacturing until enlisting in the British Expeditionary Force at the age of 23. He was declared as fit for service in April 1916 and joined the London Regiment as part of 12^th Battalion. He embarked for the Western Front in September 1916 and spent his overseas service in France where he was involved in action at the Hindenburg Line, Arras and Langemarck. During this period he was injured twice, suffering a gunshot wound to the arm in April and shrapnel wound to his left thigh in August. Walter recovered from both injuries and continued to serve until being demobilised in February 1919.