Blackmore. Remembrance 100. Twenty-one days. Twenty-one names. (4) Walter Herbert Wash

Walter Herbert Wash

War Memorial: Place and inscription Blackmore War Memorial: A/B W. Wash. Church window: Walter Herbert Wash R.N. Ongar & District War Memorial Hospital Roll of Honour (Blackmore) entered as W H Wash. [ERO A10815]

Rank: Able Seaman

Regiment: Royal Navy.  H.M. Submarine L.55.  Service No:J/12352. [CWGC]

Service Details: No military records for the Navy are available on Ancestry.com. HM Submarine L55 was sunk in action in the Baltic waters on 5th June 1919 with the loss of all hands.  She was based at Tallinn, Estonia as part of the Baltic Battle Squadron. L55 attacked two 1260 ton Bolshevik minelaying destroyers - the Gavril and Azard, but missed her targets and was forced into a British-laid minefield.

Personal and family information: Son of Robert and Minnie Wash, of Spriggs Farm, Blackmore, Essex.  [and therefore brother of Charles Wash].  Birth of Walter Herbert Wash Q1 1895 Braintree [which included Wethersfield at this date]. [Free BMD] Native of Wethersfield.  Baptism is not recorded at Wethersfield.  Glimpses of family can be seen in baptism of older siblings at Wethersfield (Charles and Elizabeth) then Blackmore End. 1911 Census.  Walter Wash living at Park Farm Cottage, Little Waltham, farm labourer age 16, born Wethersfield, with parents [both born Wethersfield] Robert, horseman on farm age 54 and Minnie, age 60.

Date of Death: 4th June 1919

Age: 24

Where died: Drowned in Baltic Sea by Bolshevik Forces [WFA]

Place of Burial or Commemoration: Commemorated Haslar Royal Navy Cemetery, Hampshire. Screen Wall L55 Grave. [WFA]

List of Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Essex Record Office, Free BMD, Western Front Association.