Pte
Walter Andrew Purdy
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 24/01/1897 |
|
Place of birth: Saint John West, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
General information
|
Last known residence: Saint John West, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
|
Profession: Machinist |
|
Religion: Methodist |
Army information
|
Country: Canada |
|
Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 817148 |
|
Enlistment date: 11/11/1915 |
|
Enlistment place: Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada |
|
Units: — Canadian Infantry, 26th Bn. (New Brunswick) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 20 |
Cemetery
|
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: I Row: D Grave: 18 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Walter Andrew Purdy was born on 24 January 1897 in Saint John West, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the son of George W. Purdy. Before enlisting, he worked as a machine operator. On 11 November 1915, at the age of 18, he enlisted in Sussex, New Brunswick. He was initially assigned to the 140th Battalion (St. John's Tigers). After arriving in the United Kingdom, he was transferred to the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick), 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.
Walter was killed in action on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November around 11 p.m., heading towards Seine Dump, where it arrived the following day around 1 a.m. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before advancing again in the evening around 11 p.m. towards the assembly positions for the attack of 6 November. These positions stretched from what is now Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele itself was to be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, which took responsibility for the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) from the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade also joined the assault, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after arriving at the assembly positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack started at 6 a.m. and was carried out by “A”, “B” and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage supported the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m., the extreme right positions were in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6:40 and 7 a.m., the centre and extreme left positions were secured by “B” Company and “D” Company. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but suffered several casualties. The main opposition came from machine-gun crews. After capturing the enemy positions, the companies established contact and consolidated their lines. Throughout the day, the Canadians endured artillery, sniper and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions all day. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counterattack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly captured front remained relatively quiet, though the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded and 1 missing.
Walter was killed at the age of 20. He was buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot I, Row D, Grave 18.
Walter was killed in action on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November around 11 p.m., heading towards Seine Dump, where it arrived the following day around 1 a.m. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before advancing again in the evening around 11 p.m. towards the assembly positions for the attack of 6 November. These positions stretched from what is now Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele itself was to be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, which took responsibility for the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) from the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade also joined the assault, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after arriving at the assembly positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack started at 6 a.m. and was carried out by “A”, “B” and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage supported the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m., the extreme right positions were in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6:40 and 7 a.m., the centre and extreme left positions were secured by “B” Company and “D” Company. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but suffered several casualties. The main opposition came from machine-gun crews. After capturing the enemy positions, the companies established contact and consolidated their lines. Throughout the day, the Canadians endured artillery, sniper and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions all day. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counterattack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly captured front remained relatively quiet, though the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded and 1 missing.
Walter was killed at the age of 20. He was buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot I, Row D, Grave 18.
Sources 3
|
5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, 4886, T-10682, 253). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
|
Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8026 - 21). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
|
War diaries: 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4934, Microfilm reel number: T-10737 - T-10738, File number: 421). https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng Sources used |
More information 4
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464345 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=124be8d0-69a1-4137-8712-ae0d9864a51b |
|
The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/464345?Walter%20Andrew%20Purdy |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6060629 |