Walter Morris Mansell
Walter Morris Mansell
Sergeant, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles)
Walter was born in Peckham in January of 1891 the son of William Jessop Mansell and Augusta Maria Mansell, both bookbinders by trade. He is first recorded on the 1891 census aged 3 months. He was one of 6 children, one of those a 14 year old brother called William. They were living in 38 Gowlett Road, Camberwell. In July 1899, aged 8 he was admitted to Ivydale Road School in Peckham while he was was living in 16 Ivydale Road.
The Ivydale School Admissions and Discharges records show him as “Removed” in September 1901. He was 10 and the family had now moved to 47 Croxted Road, Dulwich (Ref 1901 census). He was enrolled at Alleyn’s in September 1901 and he left in 1907. He is recorded in the Alleyn’s register as William although this appears to be a confusion with his father’s name. For some reason his name was added after the register was first completed and his date of birth was never recorded.
He is recorded on the 1911 Census as a 20 year old clerk working for and Auctioneer Estate Agent. Walter was now the only one of the children still living with their parents and they had moved to 8 Riseldene Road, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill.
William Morris Mansell joined the war effort in 1914 as part of the London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles). He served as a Sergeant overseas on the Western Front and was involved in a number of British operations throughout the war. In 1918, he was serving in France during the German Spring Offensive when he was shot and killed by a sniper near Arras on March 28th. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his bravery in the field after his death, and would have received a decoration for this recognition if he had survived the war. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.