Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:
Walter Scott Batey was born at Scotswood on Tyneside about 1882. His father Thomas was a police sergeant born at Haltwhistle, Northumberland and his mother Helen was born at Edinburgh, Scotland.
In 1891, Walter was living at Low Prudhoe, Northumberland, aged 7, with siblings Thomas 19, James 16, Margaret 15, John 13 Alfred 9 and Elizabeth aged 2.
By 1901 the Batey family moved to 1, Double Row, Cowpen, near to Blyth, where his father was employed as a colliery policeman and Walter was employed as an apprentice cycle maker at the age of 17. Most of his siblings were still in the family house which now included Annie, 10, and a grandson, Thomas William aged 4.
Thomas senior was still living at the family house at Double Row in 1911, now aged 27 where he was employed as a general labourer with the Cowpen Coal Company. The census at this time shows Walter to be single.
Walter enlisted in 1916 at Newcastle whilst living at 7, Grey Street, Blyth, Northumberland. He was initially with the Yorkshire Regiment with the service number 17411 before joining the Durham Light Infantry. Walter’s original grave was at Quivery however his body was exhumed and transferred to Vauxbuin French National Cemetery.
Walter Scott Batey is remembered in Cambois on C6.02 and in D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 219
