STUBBS, Walter Archibald

“MERTHYR POLICEMAN MORTALLY WOUNDED IN FRANCE WITH GRENADIER GUARDS”

Guardsman Walter Archibald Stubbs, 9463, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards

Died of Wounds at No 9 Field Ambulance Station, Flanders on 6th January 1916, age 35

Buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery Extension, France

Commemorated on the Merthyr Tydfil Police Roll of Honour, which is displayed at Merthyr Police Station

Prior to the war, Walter served seven years with the Grenadier Guards and joined the Reserves when he became a police constable in the Merthyr Borough Force (PC 61), where he was stationed at Treharris.

Following the outbreak of the war, he was called up to the colours on 4th August 1914, to rejoin his regiment ahead of their move to France.

Unfortunately the war diary is very brief for the month of January 1916, with the following taken from the 6th;

“In trenches above [EBENEZER FARM SECTION]. Relieved by the 10th Welsh Regiment 1.5 hours late, as their platoons got hopelessly mixed up in the dark. The battalion marched to billets at RUIZ BAILLEUL.

Casualties, 1 wounded (this would be Walter) and 1 slightly wounded “

Walter was 1 of 6 members of the Merthyr Police Force who were killed during WW1. Attached is a picture following the war, showing the members of the force who served, with pictures of the 6 casualties hanging behind them. A dedicated write up on Merthyr Police during and after the war will follow in the coming weeks.

Also serving during the war were both of his brothers, Private P R Stubbs (2nd South Wales Borderers) and Driver E Stubbs (Royal Field Artillery)

Son of Henry & Mary Stubbs, 51 Brecon Road, Merthyr and husband of Elizabeth Stubbs, 8 Prosser Street, Treharris.