Able Seaman Walter Theodore Grahame Bryant

SN: London Z/868 D-coy Hawke Battalion Royal Naval Reserve

Dan Hill’s research, edited by Ellie Grigsby

The very first civilian records we have of Walter comes in the form of the 1911 national census, where we can discover he was a boarding pupil at a preparatory school at Neville House, 31 Anne’s Road, Eastbourne. Walter was born on August 23rd, 1987 inside 17 Westcombe Hill in South East London. Son to Mary and Walter William, we know his parents registered his birth in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Further record searches for Walter show that he was educated at Strathenden House in Blackheath and at St. Bees, Cumberland, where he spent two years in the officer Training Corps.

During the interim of 1912 and the outbreak of The First World War, Walter was employed as a clerk at the Cape Government office in London. We know Walter originally served in the ‘Public schools Battalion’ which was a battalion of the Royal Fusiliers that comprised exclusively of current, or, previous public-school students. Bryant enlisted as a volunteer with them on November 16th, 1914. The original battalion began recruiting, privately, in September 1914 and membership was by application only. Such was the spirit of male camaraderie and the perhaps naivety of opportunity for adventure, many young men wished to serve as privates alongside their companions rather than serve in the officer class. Following the success of the original recruitment drive, four additional battalions were formed. However, as ‘Kitchener’s Army’ was marred with the dire shortage of officers, the exclusivity of the public-school battalions was doomed. Bryant would have been known as, and referred to, as a part of the ‘young gentlemen,’ but the university graduates, public-school attendees and retired officers were quickly encouraged to apply for commissions to stock Kitchener’s army and so this unique formation of men was soon depleted. Some received commissions, and some became ‘gentleman rankers’ (volunteers who ‘messed’ with the battalion officers but served in the ranks) whilst waiting for a vacant commission. The term ‘messed’ means these men did train and fight as private soldiers but ‘messed’ in the sense of dining or socialising with the officers and thus afforded a social standing of some sort of limbo between the ranks. Despite there being no conclusive indication that Bryant was a gentleman ranker it is plausible he could have served in this capacity when transferred to the Royal Naval division (RND). We do know for certain however, Bryant was a Bugler.

From Bryant’s surviving military service record card, we can gather rudimentary descriptions about his physical appearance. With a fair complexion, light brown hair and ‘grey’ eyes, it appears Bryant had a small scar on his forehead. At 5 ft 6 inches Bryant was 3 inches taller than the enlistment regulations at that time of the war, which did fluctuate considerably throughout the first year of the war. Bryant’s service record card provides key information that allows us to place where he was at significant points. We know that on the 3rd May 1915, Bryant was transferred to the Hawke Battalion of the 63rd Royal Naval Division (RN servicemen who fought as infantry on the ground). Here, he joined D Company as Able Seaman Walter Theodore Grahame Bryant.

We will never know Bryant’s exact thoughts and reasoning for joining the RND, but one potential theory could be he acted in response to the call out that appeared in newspapers in November and December 1914:

 

THE ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION (PUBLIC SCHOOL BATTALION)

The admiralty have given official permission for 1,000 university and public -school men to serve together as a battalion for the above branch of the service. This corps will be strictly limited to university and public-school men. Those wishing to join must comply with the following conditions, subject to their passing the necessary medical examination: -

  1. To serve during the period of the War.

  2. Must be between the ages of 18-35.

  3. Mean chest measurement must be 34 inches.

  4. A minimum height to be 5 ft 3 inches.

There are no expenses incurred by recruits, free kits and food being provided by the Admiralty. Recruiting hours from 10.am to 5:30pmm. Men are paid at the service rate off 1s. 3d per diem.

Apply to: 6, 7 & 8 Old Bond Street, London.

Thus, D Company was formed by volunteers, from the Public-School Battalion and so Bryant and his fellow ratings would have remained in England when the RND sailed for the Dardanelles, finally re-joining the RND at Cape Helles on May 30th, 1915. Therefore, we know Bryant was one of the men of D Company that arrived on the Gallipoli peninsular on that very day. Just days after arrival in the Dardanelles Bryant and his fellow ratings, D Company made their way into positions opposite the highly-skilled, arguably underestimated, diligent Ottoman soldiers.

Just ten days after arrival in Gallipoli, Able Seaman Walter Theodore Grahame Bryant, was killed in action. The final record comments on the 10th June 1915, the day of Bryant’s death, we find the war diarist wrote: ‘4.0pm: working parties from Hawke & Nelson Battalions (200 each) commence work on new communications (trench) near Backhouse Post.’ The intricate trench system on the western front worked in three rows; the front line, support and reserve lines. Communication trenches were dug at an angle to those facing the enemy and were for predominantly fast and effective transport routes for various reasons. Transporting men to the front, equipment, food supplies and also to carry wounded men to a Casualty Clearing Station was their major purpose. Digging for communication trenches proved typically dangerous as it involved moving around in daylight and therefore alerting the attention of enemy snipers. Remarkably, Backhouse post still exits today. Perhaps Bryant was apart of this deadly yet pivotal task. The only information we have detailing Bryant’s death is he was: ‘killed or died as a direct result of enemy action.’ Bryant was buried behind the line near a rest-camp, but the exact location of his grave was never recorded. Consequently, Bryant is remembered on the Helles memorial, along with 20,881 others who have no known grave.