Walter Nunn was born in Tottenham and by the age of 18 was employed as a warehouseman by Stapley & Smith, clothing manufacturers of London Wall and living at 42 Queens Road, Lower Edmonton. When enlisting he gave as his next of kin his father, Harry William Nunn, of the same address. By his own account he was aged 18 years 8 months when he attested his willingness to serve for 4 years in the Territorial Force at the Orderly Room of the 24th Londons at 73 New Street, Kennington on 12 August 1914, Lance-Sergeant V.A. Kent being his witness. He was medically assessed the same day and pronounced ‘fit’; he was 5’ 9 ½” tall with a 33” chest (3” range of expansion) and his vision was described as ‘good’. He was embodied for service in the 24th Londons the same day and at St Albans on 6 September 1914 he took the Imperial Service Obligation, agreeing to serve ‘in any place outside the United Kingdom’. The 1/24th (county of London) Battalion, the London Regiment (The Queen’s) (formerly 4th Volunteer Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment). The battalion formed part of the 142nd (6th London) Brigade of the 47th) 2/1st London) Division, going overseas to the France and Flanders theatre in March 1915. Pte Nunn entered the theatre of war on 16 March 1915. He was accordingly entitled to the 1914-15 Star, which he acknowledged receipt of on 21 August 1920.
Per Wikipedia: "The division embarked for France in March 1915, concentrating round Béthune. In May the division (already known in France simply as 'The London Division' to distinguish it from the Regular Army 2nd Division) took its place in the line and was designated 47th (1/2nd London) Division, with the brigades numbered consecutively: 6th London became 142nd (1/6th London) Brigade.
The division suffered casualties from shellfire while holding the line as neighbouring formations fought the Battle of Aubers Ridge, (9 & 15 May), but Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby's 142 Bde carried out the division's first offensive action, on 25 May during the Battle of Festubert. The attack on the 'S' Bend was timed for 18.30, to precede a Canadian night attack further along the line. The 23rd and 24th Londons swept across the open ground and immediately captured the German front trenches with few losses. However, German listening posts had given warning of the impending attack, and they had registered their artillery onto their own trenches. The divisional historian records that the Londoners now encountered 'a fierce and deadly enfilading fire from the German guns, and particularly from a heavy battery posted near Auchy-les-la Bassée, far to the south and out of range of the guns of our Division'.
The brigade supports, 21st Londons, and the 20th Londons from divisional reserve, were brought up and desperate attempts made to extend the brigade's gains, 'but tremendous losses were suffered by the men crowded in the captured trenches. Nothing could be done to keep down this enfilading fire, and by the following morning much of the captured trenches had been knocked to bits and had to be abandoned, but a considerable part of their front line was retained and taken into our own trench system'.[13]"
Pte Nunn was wounded on 26 May 1915, suffering a gun shot wound to the head. After some treatment he was evacuated home to the UK on 9/10 June 1915. He was accordingly listed as “wounded” on the Casualty List issued by the War Office from 18 September 1915.
He was later discharged as no longer physically fit under section 392(xvi) of King’s Regulations as of 19 November 1915 and issued with Silver War Badge number 89701, which is listed on his Medal Index Card as ‘returned to owner’ on 23 November 1917. He had been in embodied service for 1 year 100 days and his character was given as ‘good’.
(NB note on file to say “A.46. (Particulars re pension) filed with paper of 2480 Pte Whittle"; Whittle was also wounded (GSW to the head) with the 24th Londons on 26 May 1915)
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