October

Mon 1

St. Omer

Tue 2

Cassel

Wed 3

Arrived at St. Jean in Belgium.

Fri 5

R.C.’s Held their special service prep. to a “duffy” this evening. Met 4 Chinese frightened by Alleman bombs to run away.

Sat 6

Going into the line today. Boys are going over the top.

…… There are no more entries in the diary.

Official records show that Rifleman Walter Shuttleworth, 325142, 1st/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, died of wounds on 11 October 1917, aged 21. Walter was born on 17 January 1898, so this “official” age is wrong; Walter was actually 19 when he died. He is buried in Plot 4, Row D, Grave 11 at Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium. Poperinghe is a town about 11 kilometres to the west of Ieper (formerly Ypres).