Walter Highley's Story.
Private Walter Highley Gardner was killed in action on Saturday 28th September 1918. He was 21.
Walter was the second son of Alfred Gardner (1868 - 1948) and Laura Highley (1869 - 1941), and brother to Albert Elisha (1895–1972), Winifred Ellen (1899–1976), and Alfred Cyril (1906–1960). Walter was born on 25th April 1987 in Chorlton, Lancashire, and baptised on 6th June 1897 at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, in Hyde Road, Ardwick. In March 1901, Walter was living at 56 Henry Street, Ardwick. His father started employment with LNWR on 28th November 1889 as an accounts clerk for the railway.
After moving to Crewe, Walter attended the Higher Elementary School on Brierley Street, and must have been one of the first pupils to enrol when the new school opened in 1908. The headteacher in 1908 was Mr G. Woolatt, who had previously been a headteacher in Portadown, Ireland.
Staffordshire Sentinel - Saturday 11th July 1908
After leaving school, he joined LNWR aged 14 as a junior clerk in the Signal and General Office, Gresty Road, Crewe. In his spare time, he was an assistant scoutmaster in the 17th Crewe Wedgwood Troop.
The family's address in April 1911 was 34 Buxton Avenue, Crewe, but by the time Walter enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment at Crewe on 22nd November 1915, they had moved to 176 Walthall Road, where his parents were still living in June 1921. (They later moved to Watford, in Hertfordshire.)
From his attestation record, we know that at the age of 18, Walter was five foot five and a half inches in height. His first regimental number was 5171 (later changed to 50122) and he was initially in the 5th Battalion, then the 4th and lastly the 9th. He was posted to France on 21st December 1916.
Walter was killed in action on Saturday 28th September 1918, just seven weeks before the Armistice. According to the War Diaries of the 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, at Neuve Chapelle, ten other soldiers from his company lost their lives that day and three were wounded.
His mother Laura received his effects and medals:
Walter is remembered on the memorial at Loos-en-Gohelle, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
His name appears on a bronze plaque originally installed at the Wedgwood Methodist Chapel in Heath Street, Crewe. His surname is written as Gardener. After the closure of the church in 1969, the plaque was mislaid. It was re-discovered in 2004, and transferred to Hightown Methodist Church where it remained until 2010. It was then placed in the Heritage Centre, Vernon Way, Crewe, where it was still on display in July 2025.
Crewe Heritage Centre
Researched by S. Lewington (July 2025)
Walter was the second son of Alfred Gardner (1868 - 1948) and Laura Highley (1869 - 1941), and brother to Albert Elisha (1895–1972), Winifred Ellen (1899–1976), and Alfred Cyril (1906–1960). Walter was born on 25th April 1987 in Chorlton, Lancashire, and baptised on 6th June 1897 at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, in Hyde Road, Ardwick. In March 1901, Walter was living at 56 Henry Street, Ardwick. His father started employment with LNWR on 28th November 1889 as an accounts clerk for the railway.
After moving to Crewe, Walter attended the Higher Elementary School on Brierley Street, and must have been one of the first pupils to enrol when the new school opened in 1908. The headteacher in 1908 was Mr G. Woolatt, who had previously been a headteacher in Portadown, Ireland.
Staffordshire Sentinel - Saturday 11th July 1908
After leaving school, he joined LNWR aged 14 as a junior clerk in the Signal and General Office, Gresty Road, Crewe. In his spare time, he was an assistant scoutmaster in the 17th Crewe Wedgwood Troop.
The family's address in April 1911 was 34 Buxton Avenue, Crewe, but by the time Walter enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment at Crewe on 22nd November 1915, they had moved to 176 Walthall Road, where his parents were still living in June 1921. (They later moved to Watford, in Hertfordshire.)
From his attestation record, we know that at the age of 18, Walter was five foot five and a half inches in height. His first regimental number was 5171 (later changed to 50122) and he was initially in the 5th Battalion, then the 4th and lastly the 9th. He was posted to France on 21st December 1916.
Walter was killed in action on Saturday 28th September 1918, just seven weeks before the Armistice. According to the War Diaries of the 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, at Neuve Chapelle, ten other soldiers from his company lost their lives that day and three were wounded.
His mother Laura received his effects and medals:
Walter is remembered on the memorial at Loos-en-Gohelle, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
His name appears on a bronze plaque originally installed at the Wedgwood Methodist Chapel in Heath Street, Crewe. His surname is written as Gardener. After the closure of the church in 1969, the plaque was mislaid. It was re-discovered in 2004, and transferred to Hightown Methodist Church where it remained until 2010. It was then placed in the Heritage Centre, Vernon Way, Crewe, where it was still on display in July 2025.
Crewe Heritage Centre
Researched by S. Lewington (July 2025)