Walter Haw : 47th (London) Division RFA.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
Victory Medal.
1242 Dvr. W. C. Haw, Royal Field Artillery.

Walter Charles Haw, a 17 year old van guard with the London and North Western Railway, residing at 10 Maclise Road, Hammersmith, joined the Territorial Force on 18th February 1913, enlisting in the 7th London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. His Service Papers describe him as 5' 5" in height with blue eyes, brown hair, good vision and good physical development. The Territorial Force was originally intended for home defence but, following the outbreak of the First World War, the men were given the option of signing Army Form E624, by which a man subjected himself to "liability to serve in any place outside the United Kingdom in the event of National emergency." Walter signed the form on 8th September 1914.

The 7th London Brigade RFA consisted of three four-gun batteries - the 18th, 19th and 20th County of London Batteries, together with the 7th London Brigade Ammunition Column. Walter served in the 19th Battery, which, like the others, was armed with 15-Pounder B.L. guns. The Brigade became part of the 47th (London) Division and landed in France on 18th March 1915. At the beginning of May, Walter was in trouble with military authority; having fallen asleep whilst on stable picket duty, he was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No:1, and for most of the month would have spent two hours a day tied to a gun wheel. During this period, the 7th London Brigade RFA played their part in the Battles of Festubert and Givenchy. Later, in September, they contributed to the four day bombardment that preceded the Battle of Loos. In November, the Batteries were rearmed with 18-Pounder guns. They remained in the Loos Salient through the winter.

Walter Haw served with the 19th Battery until March 1916, when he was admitted to hospital with suspected enteric and subsequently sent back to England. He was discharged from the army on 16th June 1916, having served a total of 3 years and 120 days, and was awarded a pension of 4/8 a week and a Silver War Badge (List TP/61). His Discharge Papers describe his military character as "good" and include the comment "as far as can be judged from records is a steady man and can be recommended for employment in civil life." His intended place of residence was his mother's house at 2 Girdlers Road, Hammersmith. In 1917, he married Emma Barrett. Sadly, Walter Haw died the following year and one is led to conclude that the illnesses he contracted while on active service must have been a contributory factor.
In February 1920, Walter's mother wrote to the Artillery Record Office at Woolwich enquiring about her son's medals: "In respect of my son Walter Charles Haw no. 1242 Driver RFA who was invalided home from France unfit for further service & died in St Lukes Bayswater on the 4th July 1918 will you kindly forward me the medals that is due to him. I think he told me that there were three or four as he was in seven engagements out there."
In August, she wrote again: "Dear sir, I see by the press that the 1914-15 Star is ready for distribution and several have already received them so should feel greatly obliged if you will kindly forward my late dear sons on to me."
Walter Haw's widow remarried in 1921. Walter does not appear in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, perhaps because he died after being discharged from the army, but it is likely that he is just as much a casualty of the Great War as anyone who died in uniform. His full medal entitlement is the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and a Silver War Badge, the whereabouts of the first and the last being unknown.