In Memory of

WALTER TARRY

Born: 17th January 1894 Steventon, Berkshire.

Son of Alfred Thomas & Eliza Tarry of

Green Farm, Lower Street (Milton Lane), Steventon.

Pre-war occupation: Domestic Gardener

11151 Private Walter Tarry

4th Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment (Canadian Infantry)

Died: 15th June 1915 aged 21

Died of wounds received in action: Northern France

Died at 4th Gen hospital, Versailles.

REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR:

Les Gonards Cemetery (Versailles)

Yvelines, France. Grave Reference: 4. 4.

Also at Burlington War Memorial, Ontario, Canada

COMMEMORATED IN PERPETUITY BY THE

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

WALTER TARRY and his two brothers

Whilst Living with their father at Green Farm, Milton Lane, Steventon, Walter Tarry aged 19, and elder brother Albert Cyril emigrated to Ontario Canada, via Quebec in 1913. Walter joined the Canadian Infantry on 22nd September 1914. Whilst in service on the battlefields of northern France on 29th May 1915 he suffered wounds to the thigh and scalp and received treatment at the field casualty station. In fighting on the 7th June he suffered a serious gunshot wound to the thigh, for which he was treated at the 4th Gen hospital, Versailles. Unfortunately his condition deteriorated, he became seriously ill and died on June 15th, at the age of 21. On hearing the news of his brother's death, Albert travelled back to England and on 7th Oct 1915 he signed up for the Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Company. Soon after, he was dispatched to France, attached to the Signals Corps. In September 1917 he suffered a serious injury to his chest whilst carrying out repairs to an army truck. Whilst working under the wheel arch of the lorry, to change a leaf spring, a jack gave way and he was trapped between the arch and the wheel, crushing his chest. Incredibly he survived, and after several months in hospital went on to serve in France until June 1919. Upon discharge from the army he finally returned to Welland Ontario and met up with Edith Pope, who went on to become his wife. Albert died in 1950 and is buried in Hamilton Municipality, Ontario, Canada. Walter and Albert's younger brother Aubrey also attested to the British Army in November 1915. Like his brother Albert, Aubrey also joined the A.S.C. MT company, serving his time as a lorry driver. He served for a short time in the reserves in Salonika, went on to survive the war and returned to live with his Father at Green Farm, Milton Lane until 1920. Three young brothers from a family of nine children, that went off to war to serve their country, each experiencing a very different outcome.

The Tarry family boys were all born in Steventon, the family having lived there since at least 1814 (1861 Census). Walter's father, Alfred Thomas married a Steventon girl, Eliza Giles Blissett in 1876 and went on to raise 9 children (2 baby girls died before 1 year old). Unfortunately, Eliza died in 1907 when their youngest son, Aubrey was only 12 years old. After the death of Eliza, Alfred re-married to Emily Tyrrell in 1918. The Tarry family lived at Green Farm, Milton Lane between 1891 and 1937. 

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