Walter George Flegg was born in 1889 in Ipswich, Suffolk, one of the eight children of John Flegg (1857-1943) and Maria Flegg née Moody (1857-1939). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1890 in the Ipswich registration district.
All subsequent records relating to this man show him as either W. Flegg or Walter Flegg. In the 1891 census he is recorded as Walter Flegg living at Primrose Cottage, Newton Road, Ipswich, with his parents and three siblings: Beatrice A. Flegg (1882-1962), Maud Edith Flegg (1885-1972) and Edward John Flegg (1887-1967). His father's occupation was shown as a boot finisher.
He is shown as Walter Flegg in the 1901 census, living at 26 Rendlesham Road, Ipswich, with his parents and six siblings: Beatrice, Maud, Edward, Flora Flegg (b.1892 as Florence Flegg), Lily Flegg (1895-1957 as Lily Gertrude Flegg), Ethel Flegg (1896-1912 as Ethel May Flegg), together with his maternal grandmother, Ann Flegg (b.1827). His father was recorded as a boot finisher whilst his two elder sisters were shown as tailoresses.
When the 1911 census return was completed by his father in 1911 he was shown as Walter Flegg and described as a baker, still residing at the six roomed property at 26 Rendlesham Road, Ipswich, with his parents and the same six siblings. His father is shown as a boot repairer, Edward was described as a tailor, Beatrice, Maud & Florence were tailoresses, Ethel was a dressmaker and no occupation was recorded for Lily. The census return also shows his parents had eight children but that only seven were still alive.
He was employed from July 1914, by the Great Eastern Railway, at Ipswich, first as a permanent way labourer, before transferring to their Civil Engineering Department.
On 24 August 1914 he enlisted at Ipswich and served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, service number 93863, entering France on 31 May 1915. He was attached to 'D' Battery, 104th Brigade when he died of wounds, aged 27 years, on 19 May 1917 and was buried in Plot 12, Row B, Grave 13A in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Boescheepseweg 37, 8970 Poperinge, Belgium.
By 13 December 1917 his army effects totalling £11-2s-3d had been sent to his father who also received his £13-10s-0d war gratuity on 12 June 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is also commemorated on the Ipswich war memorial in Christchurch Park, Ipswich and on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
