Thank you to Jane Anthony for this research.
We are grateful to Steven John from West Wales War Memorial Project for allowing us to reproduce his work.
“Walter was born on 20 July 1893, the Youngest son of Reverend Thomas Herbert Orpen and Mrs. Amy Octavia Gwyther Orpen, the sister of Lady Philipps of Picton Castle, of 5, Herschel Road, Cambridge. He was educated at Malvern, and at Selwyn College, Cambridge where he had completed his second year when war was declared. He was then in the OTC and was gazetted to the North Staffordshire Regiment in September 1914, before being posted to the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.
He was then posted to the 10th Battalion, which was attached to 52 Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. Walter landed with the battalion at Boulogne on 15 July 1915. They spent their initial period of trench familiarisation and then holding the front lines in the southern area of the Ypres salient. Here they took part in fighting at the Bluff during February, 1916 before moving south, where they fought at the Battle of Albert, where the Division captured Fricourt at heavy cost during the opening of the Somme Offensive. Walter was killed here by a sniper on 6 July 1916. He was 22 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.” West Wales War Memorial Project
From his Times Obituary, 27th July 1916: “Second Lieutenant Walter Selwyn Orpen, North Staffordshire Regiment, who was killed on July 6th aged 23 was the youngest son of the Rev. T. H. and Mrs Orpen of Mark Ash, Abinger, Surrey. He was educated at Malvern, and at Selwyn College, Cambridge where he had completed his second year when war was declared. He was then in the OTC and was gazetted to the North Staffordshire Regiment in September 1914. After 9 months training he went to the Front being attached to the Lancashire fusiliers. He had recently been made sniping Intelligence Officer to his battalion, and it was in the discharge of this duty that he met his death instantaneously from a snipers bullet. His adjutant writes: During the time he has been with us I grew to like him more and more and to respect his many good qualities. He was always cheerful and brave.”
WALTER SELWYN ORPEN
W. S. Orpen, youngest son of the Rev. T. H. Orpen, formerly Tutor of the College, came to Selwyn from Malvern College in 1912. In spite of weak health, he obtained his College colours both for Hockey and for Tennis. He was a member of the O.T.C., and when war was declared received a commission in the 4th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment. After nine months training he was sent to the front and attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers, and became Sniping and Intelligence Officer to his Battalion. He was killed on July 6 by a rifle shot as his regiment was advancing through the German trenches north of Fricourt, between that place and Contalmaison. His Adjutant writes, “During the time he has been with us I grew to like him more and more and to respect his many good qualities. He was always cheerful and brave.” The Chaplain adds “We all feel the loss very much, for he was indeed a charming and lovable character.” He was 23 yeasr old at the time of his death.
© Selwyn College Cambridge
| Lived | Abinger, Dorking | |
| Son of | Reverend Thomas Herbert and Amy Octavia Gwyther Orpen | |
| Brother of | Lady Philipps of Picton Castle and Cambridge | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers | |
| Date of Death | 6th July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Fricourt, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 23 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial, France |
