Grandparents

Walter’s paternal grandparents were Thomas and Rebecca Dalton. Thomas was born in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, about 1826 and was a journeyman (ie qualified) carpenter. Rebecca was born about 1832 in Catherton, Shropshire. In 1861 and 1871 they lived at Whittington Lock, Kinver. They had 8 children, the oldest, Benjamin, being Walter’s father. The 3 eldest children were born in Stourport and the others in Kinver. Thomas died in Whittington in 1892.

The maternal grandparents were William and Ann Maria Nash. William was born in Shrewsbury about 1814. Ann was born in Claverley, near Bridgnorth, about 1820. In 1861 they lived at Little Gain, Worfield, Shropshire, and William was an agricultural labourer. In 1871 they lived at Hinksford, Wombourne, Staffs, and William and 3 of their sons were all carters. William and Ann had 6 children, the fifth, Hannah, being Walter’s mother. The children were all born in Claverley or Worfield.

Parents

There is some discrepancy in Benjamin Dalton’s age according to different censuses but it seems most likely that he was born about 1851 in Stourport. Hannah was born in Claverley about 1854. In 1871 Benjamin was a carpenter and lived with his parents but by 1881 he and Hannah had married and lived at High St, Kinver. Benjamin was now a general labourer. By 1891 they had moved to 5 Lower Horseley Fields, Wolverhampton, and Benjamin was a labourer in a forge. Benjamin appears to have died by 1901, although the census describes Hannah as married. She was now working as a needlewoman (shirts). She was living at 20 Bank St, Broughton. In 1911 Hannah lived at 2 Orchard St, West Didsbury, and her occupation was given as plain sewing. Benjamin and Hannah had 6 children, Alice, born in Swindon, Staffs, about 1874, Benjamin, born in Kingswinford, Staffs, about 1877, Florence Lavinia, born on 24 December 1879 and baptised at Kinver on 11 January 1880, Nellie, born about 1885 in Wolverhampton, Edith, born about 1888 in Wolverhampton, and Walter, born about 1892. Benjamin Jnr became a scrap cutter in an ironworks, Lavinia a knitter of wools and Nellie’s occupation in 1911 was house work.

At the time of Walter’s death, Hannah was living at 86 Derby Rd, Withington.

Walter

Walter was born in Wolverhampton about 1892. In 1911 he was living in Orchard St with his mother and 2 sisters. He was 19 and a clerk in a gents outfitters. He later served with the 1st/7th Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, service number 290793. He died in action, probably at the Battle of the Ancre, on 13 November 1916, aged 24. He is buried at the Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, grave reference I. B. 16.