22782 L/Cpl Ernest Fairbrother, 10th Loyal North Lancs

Lance-Corporal Ernest Fairbrother was a patient at Beechland House, Newick.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

L. Cpl E Fairbrother 22782

10th Batt Loyal North Lancs Regt

Wounded on 15th Nov 1916 on the

Ancre.  Also at Givenchy May 1915.

“Make new friends & keep the old”

He shares this page with 1366 Lance-Corporal Ernest Ladd of the 5th East Kent Regiment and 25442 Private Norman Wigston of the 4th Worcestershire Regiment.

The 10th Loyal North Lancs Regiment was a Kitchener (K3) battalion which was formed at Preston in October 1914.  It was initially attached as Army Troops to the 22nd Division but in April 1915 joined the 112th Brigade in the 37th Division.  It is possible therefore that Ernest was wounded at Givnecy On the day on which Ernest was wounded, Chris McCarthy in his book, The Somme - The Day by Day Account has this to say:

Wednesday 15th November

V Corps - 37th Division

“The major concern of 37th Division, which had begun the relief of 63rd Division, was the linking up with 51st Division on their left.  The 13th Rifle Brigade (111 Brigade) bombed up Beaucourt Trench towards Munich Trench before 9am, but it was not until 10am that the link was established.  On the right, Beaucourt was shelled all day.  63 Brigade sent out a patrol and found Muck and Railway Trenches abandoned by the Germans.  Muck Trench was found to be full of mud.”

Private Lewis Walder, 11th Loyal North Lancashire Regt

L Walder is almost certainly Lewis Walder born at Hove, Sussex in 1890 and appearing on the 1891 census as living at Coleys, North Common, Chailey with his family.  The family comprised Lewis Walder, a farmer aged 37, his wife Emily, aged 30 and their five sons: Allen Walder (aged eight), Harry Walder (aged seven), Jesse Walder (aged five), George Walder (aged three) and Lewis Walder (aged one). 

Ten years later, the 1901 census shows the family living at Warren Villa, Chailey.  Lewis Walder senior is now noted as a farmer employer.  Allen (18)  is noted as “farmer’s son” while Harry (aged 16) and Jesse (aged 15) are working as domestic gardeners.  Other members of the family are the children’s mother (Emily Walder), George (13) and Lewis (11) plus three more children born since the 1891 census was taken: James Walder (aged ten), William Walder (aged eight) and finally, a daughter: Ada E Walder (aged two).  Ada Emily Walder would die later that year and, much later, her parents would be buried in her grave.  

Chailey Parish Magazine first notes Lewis Walder in June 1916 noting: Walder, Private L, Royal N Lancs, England.  This information is updated the following month to note that he is serving with the 11th Battalion.  L Walder is then mentioned in every subsequent issue up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

I have been unable to find any Walder with North Lancs connections on the National Archives’ on-line medal information card index.  Only one Lewis Walder appears and that is A/382156 Private Lewis Walder of The Army Service Corps. 

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembers that the Walder family used to live at Lane End Farm, Chailey and this is confirmed by Kelly’s 1915 directory for Sussex which notes: “Chailey- Walder Lewis, farmer, Lane End farm”. 

Four men with the surname Walder and with connections to Chailey served their King and Country during the First World War.  J Walder could be Jesse or John Walder and could be Lewis Walder’s brother.  William Walder could also be a brother.  The final Walder, Ebenezer Walder was the only son of Isaac Walder (of Lindfield, Sussex) and Emily Walder. 

Lewis Walder senior, his wife Emily, their infant daughter Ada and her brothers Allen, Jesse, George, James and William are all buried in St Mary’s churchyard, North Chailey.