Lives of the First World War

Wallace Waller was born in Slinfold in 1897, his parents being Peter and Mary Ann. The 1901 Census records that three year old Wallace was the youngest child, having four sisters and one brother. They lived in Farm Cottages, almost certainly the building which is now Random Hall on Stane Street. His father was a stockman on the farm and his older brother was a farm labourer. This Farm was known simply as ‘Farm’ & housed 2 families There was also a boarder living with them who worked as a carter on the farm. By 1911 the family was living in a four-room dwelling in Park Street. The father was now a farm labourer, Wallace was a schoolboy, his older brother was a carter in the timber yard on Stane Street, and three of his sisters had left home. Wallace enlisted in the 2/4th Royal Sussex Regiment in 1914 and served with them for 20 months. He then transferred to the 16th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, aged 19 years 1 month, where he served as a Lance Corporal, Service No. G/40376. On his enrolment paper it states that his trade was that of Grocer. Wallace was killed in action on 31st May 1917. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. He was awarded the Victory and the British Medals.

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