On 4th December 1915, The Evesham Journal reported that the late Samuel and Rebecca Halford of Wickhamford had five sons in the Army: Private Alfred James Halford (known as Fred), Private Allen Ernest Halford, Private Horace Albert Halford, Corporal Walter Owen Halford and Private Francis Harry Halford (known as Harry). Cpl Walter Owen Halford (1889-?) was the seventh son and one of ten children of Samuel and Rebecca and had been born at Offenham.
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Walter was a market gardener’s labourer in 1911, living with his parents on Pitchers Hill.
No enlistment or service records survive for a man of this full name. The Medals Records have a Cpl Walter Halford of the Worcestershire Regt (No 14931) entitled to the British War and Victory Medals, indicating he was not in France in 1914/15. The Evesham Journal report mentioned above of 4th December 1915 states that Walter Halford was still in England at that time. This suggests that the Medals Record could well be that for the Wickhamford man. The War Office casualty list of 27th November 1916 records him as being wounded.
Nothing is known of Walter’s movements after the war, or the date of his death. Family history sources for the Halford family also fail to throw any light on his subsequent life.