Lance/Sergeant Walter Wild
241528 2/5th East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in action 9th October 1917, aged 24
Lived at 42 Pear Street
Buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium
Commemorated on Burnley Lads Club Memorial
Burnley Express 20th October 1917

Walter Wild was married and lived at 42 Pear Street, Burnley. He rose to the rank of Lance Serjeant (241528) in the 2nd /5th Bn., East Lancashire Regiment. He died aged 24 on Tuesday 9th October 1917. He is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery grave XX E 5.

The Burnley Express of October 1917 reported;-
“Enlisted and fell together. Two Promising Burnley Young Men.
Two Burnley men who enlisted together are now reported to have fallen together. Lce-Srgt. Wild (23) No.241528 East Lancashire, and machine gunner Leonard Hartley (27) no.241354 of the same regiment enlisted in the spring of 1915, and went on active service on March 1st last. As boys they had been connected with St Peter’s School, and later they were both actively identified with the Burnley rescue lodge of Good Templars, Wellhouse Street. From information available it appears that the two were in a party who went over the top on Tuesday of last week, and that they received fatal wounds about the head.. By occupation Walter Wild was a loomer and twister at Healey Wood. A manly young fellow of sterling character, he was held in the highest esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Fond of outdoor exercise he had won athletic prizes whilst training in Colchester, in which connection his name had appeared in the “Express”. A brother in law of the lance sergeant, George Stansfield, has been wounded twice, and three other brothers in law are with the colours. Lce Sergt. Wild’s wife is a daughter of Mrs Calvert, 42 Pear Street and sister of the Rev. Edgar Calvert.
Machine Gunner Hartley 58 Cromwell Street, was also a young man of excellent parts. He has two brothers in France and one on the sea. A brother in law, Pte Rennie Graham made the supreme sacrifice last April. Formerly Leonard Hartley was a weaver at Scar Top Mill. He, too, was a married man.”

The 2nd/5th Battalion War Diary reported:-
“9th October 1917. Passendaele. Minnezeele. East of Ypres. Near Vlamertinghe. Moved up the slopes of the Frezenberg Ridge and attacked at 5.20am with Blue Line as objective. Held Position and consolidated under heavy fire until relieved by 42Battalion Australian Infantry. Casualties Officers 2 killed and 10 wounded. Other Ranks 34 killed229 missing (17 believed killed) and 16 wounded.”

At least 15 Burnley men were killed in this attack including James Astin, William Edmondson, George Glover, Daniel Howarth, Albert Lister, John Marshall, George Parker, Randolph Prince, Andrew Rice, Charles Salmon, John Shears, Edwin Ware and Walter Wild.

Notes.
Burnley Express “In memoriam. Oct 12 1918 from his sorrowing widow 60 Nairne Street - also Herbert and Polly”
He was the brother in law of A. B. Rundle of “Calvert Dale”, Keera Rd., Inbingara New South Wales.

"Attached 2/5 ELR football team. Officers named but not Walter. However on the back listed as Sgt Wild killed Passchendal Oct 1917" (Walter third from right, middle row - courtesy of Mike Townend - Towneley Hall)

Burnley Rescue Temperance Lifeboat Crew

Walter Wild back row 2nd from left Leonard Hartley back row second from right.

We've scrutinised the sign and altered contrast etc and we think it says "Burnley Rescue Temperance Lifeboat Crew". The date may be at the top but I can't make it out. This morning, I had a little scoot around newspaper articles and it seems that they used to do a lot of free musical performances. I've attached an article which mentions one of these. Interestingly, the article names E. Pogson and M.A. Pogson (Edith and Mary Ann) who were very close friends with my Great Grandma and Walter. They also appear in the photo. Mary Ann Pogson is front row, second from the right and her little sister Edith is the little girl on the left of the man with the sign. Having read the article, I wonder if the man with the sign is J.C. Marshall but I can't corroborate that.

(Courtesy of Klare Tootell)