His Medal Index Card confirms his entitlement to a BWM and VM Pair only.

Private Walter Booth was born in West Yorkshire around 1883, the son of Elizabeth and Iam Taylor, a Woolen Weaver.

We are not quite sure why his surname is different to his parents and this needs further investigation, but in the 1911 Census the family are living in Holmfirth in Yorshire with Walter noted aged 28 and his occupation given as a Wollen Weaver.

Walter served in the Great War in France with firstly the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers, (1st Tyneside Irish) which was a 'Pals' battalion raised in Newcastle in November 1914. He later served with the 22nd Battalion (Tynside Scottish) in France.

However, on 21 March 1918 Walter is reported 'Missing, Presumed Dead' and his body was never found. This is noted on his Medal Index Card and Pension Ledger Card along with his Mother Elizabeth Taylor, and with no known grave he is remembered with honour on the Arras Memorial (Bay 2 and 3).

Otherwise we have done little work on Mr Booth, so a nice little project for the regimental collector.