Major Walter Guy Ayscough

Walter was born to parents John and Frances Elizabeth (nee Crowdy). His parents had married at the Parish Church in Clapham on 24th April 1881.

Walter was born on 19th July 1882 in Chiswick, Middlesex and baptised at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bedford Park on August 16th 1882. At this time the family was living at 10 Bath Road, Chiswick and the baptismal register listed his father as a merchant.

In the census of 1891 the family was living at One Oak, Station Road, Ashtead, Surrey. Parents, John a Merchant Shipper and his wife Francis Elizabeth who employed three servants now had four young children. Walter, Geoffrey, Alice and Ivan. Two further children, David and Alan were born later.

Walter was educated at Downsend, Ashtead and Epsom College. He entered Lower IV Wilson House on 21st September 1897 and left at Easter 1899 to join the regular army.

In the census of 1901 Walter’s family was listed at Oak View, Burnt Wood Lane, Ashtead, Surrey whilst Walter was most likely in South Africa with the army.

Walter fought almost throughout the South African War. He was part of the Squadron of “Brabant’s Horse” which took part in the relief of Wepener. Later he served with the Intelligence Department of Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts. He was recommended for the DCM for his services in the South African War and also received the Queen’s and King’s medals with six clasps. Lord Roberts nominated him for a commission in the Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).

Walter transferred into the Indian army and became a Lieutenant on 3rd December 1904 and later became adjutant of his regiment, 7th Duke of Connaught’s Own Rajputs, and station officer. He was also on the staff of the Indian Council at the Durbar.

Sometime during 1905 Walter’s family moved from Ashtead to 14 Woodside, Wimbledon.

On the 22nd January 1907 Walter married Ada Beatrice Cruickshank, the second daughter of Sir William Dickson Cruickshank, in Calcutta, Bengal, India.

(In 1910 his son, Anthony Edward was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and he also was awarded the Military Cross and was Mentioned in Despatches.)

In 1912 Walter was posted to the Persian Gulf as part of an operation to prevent gun running. In the autumn of 1914 he was posted to East Africa as a special service officer attached to the Bharatphur Imperial Service Infantry. On 3rd September 1917 his promotion to major was announced and he would have been the second in command of a battalion.

He was killed in action on 25th September 1917 and is buried in the Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery in Tanzania. He is also remembered at Wimbledon Parish Church.

Walter also lost a brother in conflict. His younger brother David a Private was involved in the fighting around Pozieres in the Battle of the Somme. He died from gunshot wounds on 7th September 1916 and was buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, approximately 5km north of Boulogne. He too is also remembered on a memorial at Wimbledon Parish Church.

David and Walters parents remained living in the Wimbledon area. Their mother Frances died in 1920 and their father John in 1933 at which time his address was listed as 93 Worple Road, Wimbledon.