West Lancashire soldier who fought in two world wars

Feb 28 2013 Ormskirk Advertiser

BURSCOUGH man Walter Arnold served three sovereigns during his military career.

Walter Arnold enlisted in July 3 1917 aged 17, and in April 1918 he was posted to 5/ Border (Pioneers) in France.

He was wounded on April 28 and evacuated England. He returned to France in August to the 5/ Border. This Territorial unit now shed its pioneer tag reverting to an infantry role as originally intended.

During this period known as the last 100 days the advancing allies pushed the broken German army back culminating in defeat.

Arnold won his military medal in May 1919 as an ‘immediate’ award for his bravery during the 100 days.

Following the armistice he served with the border regiment in Germany and India before discharge May 1921. That year he married Mary Jane Dutton, of Back Lane, Burscough.

In 1928 their only child Mary was born.

After working at RAOC Burscough in 1932 he enlisted in the supplementary reserve, and on September 2 with impending war he was mobilised aged 40.

That month he departed to France with the BEF, credited with guiding his much younger colleagues through many escapades to eventual evacuation from Dunkirk.

In late 1940 he was posted to north Africa and then Greece, Crete, Italy before returning to UK in October 1944,

He was finally discharged due to his age in July 1945

Returning to RAOC Burscough he retired in 1965. His campaign medals were ; M.M, BWM & Victory Medal, Stars 39/45, Africa 1st Army, Italy; BWM, Defence Medals.

In 1965 he was awarded the coveted Imperial Service Medal by Queen Elizabeth in a lifetime of 80 years he devoted 53 years to the ‘The Monarch’ in a soldier or civilian capacity. A marvellous record of service during war and peace. My thanks to Eric Postles in allowing me the privilege to learn of this.