BIRTLES, WALTER VALENTINE FREEMAN, Sapper, No. 489929, Signal Service, Royal Engineers, elder s. of the late Walter William Birtles, by his wife, Alice (303, Beverley Road, Hull), dau. of Alfred Copley, of London; b. Balham, London, S.W., 23 March, 1884; educ. Hymer’s College, Hull; was a Clerk in the Anglo-American Oil Company, Ltd.; volunteered for active service, and enlisted in the R.F.A. 25 May, 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 21 Oct. following; transferred to the Royal Engineers in Aug. 1917, and died at Valenciennes 24 Nov. 1918, of influenza, contracted while on active service. Buried in the Communal Cemetery there. He m. at Holy Trinity Church, Darlington, 3 April, 1915, Nettie, dau. of Robert Saggs, of Bridlington.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5