Alfred Tom Walden
Alfred Thomas Walden (known as Tom) was born in April 1890 in Burton Green, one of nine children of William and Sarah Walden (nee Wagstaff). He was baptised at Westwood the following month. His father was a stockman at "The Hollies", and his mother, who was widowed early, kept a shop in Stoneleigh
.
Tom first joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in November 1914 as service number 746 but was later transferred to the 2nd Bn the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), number L/14977. This battalion had been in Calcutta prior to January 1915 but from that month, as part of the 29th Division, found themselves billeted in the Midlands. It was here that the entire Division was inspected by King George V at Stretton-on-Dunsmore on March 12th 1915. Shortly afterwards they embarked for Alexandria and landed at Gallipoli on April 25th, at 6am.
About 24 per cent of the Division's rifle strength became casualties that day, under a "withering bombardment", and Tom was killed in action, apparently carrying documents. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the Missing, Panel 37-41 number 02 328.