Walter Hanson was born at Ring Of Bells Yard, Horbury in 1877. He was the fourth child, and first son, of John and Martha (née Goldthorpe) of Horbury, who were married on February 26 1872 at St Peter and St Leonard's Church, Horbury.

Laura Chapman was born in Upper Whitley on June 17th 1878.

She and Walter were married a day after Laura's 20th birthday at St John the Divine, Horbury Bridge.

Over the next 11 years they had six children; Alice b1899, Richard b1901, Annie b1906, Phyllis b1908 and Elsie b1910. Sadly, as then happened so often, their sixth child died in infancy.

In 1901 Walter - a labourer at a local colliery - and Laura, with Alice and Richard, were living at Golden Square, Horbury. They lived here until at least 1907 but by 1911 they had moved to 24 Ranter's Fold. Walter was now a hewer (a miner who cuts coal from a seam) at Crigglestone Colliery.

[Their eldest daughter, Alice, married Edwin Archibald Talbot (b Middlestown 1896 d1924) on 7 Oct 1916 at South Ossett Church. The 1911 census shows Edwin, aged 15, working as a trammer and living with his family at 19 King's Buildings, Healey. His brother Fred is one of the Ossett Fallen. The 1911 Census also shows a boarder in the home of the Talbots - James Ryan. Another of the Ossett Fallen.]

Walter Hanson had been a Volunteer with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry serving in the Boer War. 

When Great Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th 1914, Walter again answered the call for recruits and re-joined the KOYLI, no 2993, with the 9th Battalion that had been formed in Pontefract in September 1914. He went with them to France, arriving in September 1915. At some point, Walter was gassed and hospitalised. 

Possibly as a result of this and his age, later Walter joined The Royal Defence Corps (no. 71277) which was formed in March 1916. Its role was to provide troops for security and guard duties inside the United Kingdom. It was made up of men left behind, being too young, too old, or in reserved occupations. The men guarded important locations such as ports or bridges and provided independent companies for guarding prisoner of war camps.

Tragically, Private Walter Hanson 71277 RDC drowned in a tragic accident at Victoria Dock, Hull on May 1 1918. He was buried at Horbury Cemetery.

This roll of honour is in the entrance to what used to be Horbury Town Hall and it honours the Horbury men, both regulars and volunteers, who served in the South African Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902. Amongst these names are Walter Hanson, John H Goldthorpe (Walter's uncle) and George Blackmore (the second husband of Laura Hanson).

Walter's widow, Laura, remarried in early 1919. She became Mrs George Blackmore and continued to live at 24 Ranters Fold, Horbury up until at least 1937. Laura had three more children: Mary Blackmore b1921, Jack Blackmore b1924, Eva Blackmore b1926.