207679 Drv. Walter Joseph Caiger British Army 149th Battalion, 26th Brig. Royal Field Artillery from:23 Smalley Rd., Stoke Newington, London This story of my Grandfather, Walter Caiger, was pieced together after considerable research due to his British Army Service records having been destroyed during WW2. Walter had entered the Army in 1899 at age 16yrs, and had taken part in the Anglo Boer War in South Africa during 1899-1902.
Serving as a regular soldier when WW1 broke out, he was deployed from Aldershot with the 149th Battalion 26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery to the Western Front with the 1st Division of British Expeditionary Forces under the command of Lt-Colonel Cunliffe-Owen, landing in France on 16th August 1914, where their first encounter with the German forces occurred on 23rd August 1914 at Mons. He also served with the Allied Expeditionary Forces at Thessaloniki (Salonica) in central Macedonia/Greece 1915-16.
Walter experienced a great deal of action in WW1 as quoted in the National Roll of the Great War:-
"Caiger, W. R.F.A. A serving soldier who enlisted in 1900, he was drafted to the Western Front on the outbreak of hostilities. His service overseas lasted for 5 years, and during this time he took part in important engagements in practically all sectors, and was wounded. He was discharged on his return to England in February 1919.
23 Smalley Road Stoke Newington N16 Entry No. 7297"
The wounds he received were a result of Mustard Gas first used by the Germans in 1917. A lethal chemical, only requiring minimal amounts to be effective. It was almost odourless and took 12 hours for the effects to show, remaining in the soil for several weeks. Victims suffered blistered skin, sore eyes, vomiting, internal and external bleeding, with the mucous stripped from their bronchial tubes, they suffered a slow and agonising death over a period of 4-5 weeks. Walter was fortunate to survive but as a result, not able to continue his Army duties and was discharged in January 1920.
Walter was awarded the 1914 Star & Clasp, General Service and Victory Medals (Clasp No.14526 “Clasp & Roses†issued)W7585 c/a d29.1.20 Qualifying date 16.8.14. When the full size medal was worn, the clasp would have been attached to the ribbon, and when just the medal ribbon was worn, a small rosette was mounted in the middle of the ribbon to signify the recipient had earned the clasp.
Post war Walter took up duties with London County Council, which acknowledged its employees contributions during the Great War 1914-18, by keeping a Record of Service for each of them. Walter’s being:
Caiger, Walter Joseph (1914-19); Sapper, U.F. ; France and Salonica 3 years.
Although not having known Grandfather, we admire the stamina, courage and valour he and his comrades would have shown throughout these hostilities, and give thanks for his safe return to his homeland, England.
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