Enrico's Story.
Enrico James Walle was born in Seacombe on 12th November 1894 to parents, Charles, a merchant seaman, and Jane Walle (nee’ Cooney). Charles was originally from Trieste, which at that time was part of Austria. He became a British subject.In 1901 the family lived at 1 Roe Street, Birkenhead. Enrico had three brothers, John, Francis and Antonio and two sisters, Virginia and Elizabeth. They were to move back to Seacombe where Enrico attended St. Joseph’s School.
Charles Walle died in 1909, so by 1911 Jane and her children were boarders in the household of Francis Hobson at 13, Brotherton Street, Seacombe. The census of that year recorded Enrico as a labourer at a flour mill. Jane also declared on that census that her children were Austrian by birth.
Enrico then moved from working in the flour mills to be an assistant at the Liverpool Docks.
Britain entered the First World War on the 4th August 1914 and 4 days later Enrico enlisted in the 13th (Service) Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment. He arrived in France on the 17th December 1915.
By mid September 1917 the 13th KLR had moved to Belgium and were camped near to the town of Brandhoek.
Private Enrico James Walle was killed in action on 28th September 1917. The battalion war diary for that day read -
‘….. There was considerable hostile sniping during the day and M.G fire at night. A heavy enemy barrage was put down at 6 p.m. lasting about an hour.’
One of Enrico’s officers wrote to the family ‘His company was called upon to reinforce a hard pressed front line, and your brother, with the rest of his company, worked and fought magnificently’
Enrico Walle’s body was never recovered or identified so he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Enrico Walle was entitled to the 1914/15 Star, the British Medal and the Victory Medal.
Two of Enrico’s brothers, also served during the First World War. Francis with the Royal Garrison Artillery and Antonio with the Army Service Corps. Both survived the war.
Research by Chris Booth