Walter Ernest Jolley was born 10th May 1898 at 215 Leek Road, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. His parents were James Jolley born in 1864 at Burslem and Anne Louisa née Malpass born in Burslem 1867. They were married on the 26th July 1885 at St Pauls Church, Burslem. James and Annie would go on to have nine children, the surviving eight being; James born 1886 at Hanley, Ada Hulme born 8.9.1888 at Hanley, Emily Louisa born 7.8.1890 at Hanley, Constance born 11.12 1892 at Hanley, Florence Mabel born 1895 at Hanley, Walter Ernest born 10.05.1898 Burslem, Harold born 1900 at Shelton, Doris born1904 at Stoke. 

The 1891 Census shows James (26) working as a Colliery Banksman and his wife Annie (24) living at 98 Botteslow Street, Hanley with young children James (5) Ada (2) and Emily (7 months).  

The 1901 Census shows James (36) working as a Colliery Banksman living with Annie (34), living at 48 Cauldron Road, Hanley with children James (15), Ada Hulme (12), Emily(10), Constance (8), Florence (5), Walter (2) and Harold 5 months. 

The 1911 Census shows James (46) working as Collier Hewer and his wife Annie (44) living at 275 Newcastle Street, Burslem with growing children Ada (22) single and a Potters Bisque Warehouse Woman, Emily (20) single and a Lithographer, Constance(18) single and a Potters Lithographer Transferor, Florence (15) and an Apprentice Gilder, Walter is now 12 at school, Harold (9) at school, Doris (6) at school. Also living with them is grandson Albert Edward Jolley (1) born 3 Heaton Terrace, Wolstanton 19th May 1909 his mother being Ada Hulme Jolley, no father is registered on his birth certificate. However Ada Hulme Jolley married John Thomas Davies a Railway Porter on 24.12.1911 at St Paul's Church Burslem, they initially lived at 6 Princess Square, Longport, Staffs. John Thomas Davies enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment number 9145, his service records show Albert Edward Jolley as being his son born before marriage and a further son John James Davies. Having survived the war they then lived at 34 Bridgwater Street Burslem. John Thomas Davies continued working as a Railway Porter. 

Walters' brother James had married Francis Ellen Groom at the Parish Church Longton on the 16th April 1910 and are known to have had at least 5 children, Sarah Ellen born 15.02.1911 at Wolstanton and James William born 12.02.1912 at Wolstanton, Bertie born and died 1913, Geoffrey born 08.03.15 died 1918 and Constance 13.2.17. 

James Jolley also served in the army having first enlisted on the 11th November 1902 at Gosport. He joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corp and was given service number 5107. He stated in his attestation that he was a serving soldier of the Militia, 4th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He stated also that he wished now to serve with the Kings Royal Rifle Corp. He was 18 years old and gave his occupation as Groom. He became a competent soldier attaining the rank of Corporal. He moved into the army reserve in August 1909. On the outbreak of WW1 soon found himself at the front and taking part in the retreat from Mons with the 1st battalion the Kings Royal Rifle Corp. He was an Old Contemptible, arriving in France on the 12th August 1914. He had been mobilised on the 5th August 1914 and would serve until discharge on the 15th November 1915. Not satisfied, he again enlisted on the 14th September 1916 and again joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corp but was transferred to the Army Service Corp with number M/279844 on the 22nd March 1917 and eventually discharged on the 11th March 1919. He gave his address as Newcastle Street and occupation Chauffeur aged 32. He earned the 1914 Star with clasp and rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

Walter was recorded as killed at the front in France on the 10th November 1916 aged 18 and is buried in the Grandcourt Road Cemetery in grave C.18. According to the 8th Battalion war diary for the 11th November 1916 they were in trenches near Crucifix Corner, Aveluy. This is North of Albert and formed part of the Somme battle. The diary reports that on this day they were engaged in trench repair work under enemy artillery so it is likely Walter was killed by an exploding artillery shell or shot.

A pension of 3 shilling and 6 pennies was awarded for life to his mother now residing at 359 Newcastle Street, Burslem. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission also records an address of 138 Newcastle Street, Burslem for his family.

A report in the Staffordshire Sentinel dated 23rd December 1916 tells us that his parents had received official notification of Walter's death: 

Official news has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Jolley, 359, Newcastle-Street, Burslem, that their son, Pte. Walter Jolley, North Staffordshire Regiment, has been killed in action. He was 18 years of age, and prior to his enlist-ment was employed by Messrs. Doulton, Burslem. A letter from his captain to his parents speaks of him as always being cheerful and willing, an excellent soldier, and very popular with his comrades.

Walter Ernest Jolley is Remembered with Honour at the Grandcourt Road Cemetery, Grandcourt France C 18 

His headstone is shared with Samuel Tunstall 40542 North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Son of Mr. S. M. and Mrs Emma E Tunstall of 42 Wilson St., Newcastle, Staffs. whose recorded death is between 18th and 19th November 1916, it is suggested that in the chaos of the Western Front men who died close to one another in shell holes or trenches were often buried together in a single grave. When recovered later, their remains could not be separated, so they were buried side-by-side in one plot. The dates of Samuel Tunstall and Walter Jolley's deaths are a week apart which adds to the view that at the time the bodies were unidentifiable. 

Samuel Tunstall enlisted April 19th 1915 aged 19 years old, he is remembered on the St Georges Church, Newcastle Under Lyme WW1 memorial, he was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His younger brother Frederick enlisted into the R.G.A service number 2821956 and survived the war.  

Walter is remembered on the Burslem Royal Doulton Memorial.

He earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The 1921 Census sees Walter's parents James Jolley (57) working as a Miner Hewer for  Madeley Coal Coke & Brick Co. and Annie (54) living at 138 Newcastle St, Burslem. With them were their daughter Emily Louise now married to Charles Kilgarriff and their son Charles Stuart Kilgarriff born 1920. Daughter Constance Anne, now married to George Henry Philips and their son William James Phillips born 1920. Son Harold (20) working as a Shunter and daughter Doris (16) and apprentice Potter Gilder and grandson Horace Jolley (6) born 1915 to mother Jolley. Also was granddaughter Constance Irene Jolley aged 7 born 1914 her mother being registered as Jolley. 

Florence Mabel married Frank Wild in 1920 and in the 1921 census she and Frank were living at 62 Waterloo Rd, Burslem with his mother and brother and their new born daughter Ivy. Florence Mabel Wild died in 1932.

SOURCES

James Jolley birth: https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=ylQ8tBd0uICtN1MoL%2Fgg2Q&scan=1

FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. 

Jolley/Malpass marriage: Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

1891 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2166; Folio: 125; Page: 11; GSU roll: 6097276

1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2605; Folio: 43; Page: 4

1911 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911

1921 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12618, ED 4, Sch 258; Book: 12618

Walter Ernest Jolley birth https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=xwg1fepKJUHcx%2BDv%2F8Asxw&scan=1 

War Records: 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/690799978?terms=40463%2Cjolley 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/record/739887349/jolley-walter-uk-nominal-index-of-all-service-personnel-serving-in-a-theatre-of-war-1914-1919

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/sub-image/619304934/jolley-walter-e-uk-british-army-registers-of-soldiers-effects-1901-1929?terms=40463%2Cjolley

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/image/327206845/jolley-walter-page-3-uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920?terms=40463%2Cjolley

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/record/735286245/jolley-walter-uk-soldiers-died-in-the-great-war-1914-1919

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/669007071?terms=40463%2Cjolley

Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 108/0505/Joh-Jon 

J. Jolley: The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363

STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL 23.12.1916 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19161215/050/0003

NATIONAL ARCHIVES WAR DIARIES WO95/208/2

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/544622/w-e-jolley/ 

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/544742/samuel-tunstall/