MORE than 60 members of a West Wiltshire family gathered on Sunday to remember a relative who died in the First World War.

Private Walter Hazell, of D Company, the 2nd/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, died aged 26 on August 21 1917 at Ypres in Belgium.

He is buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Grave V1II.E.10 and, sadly, did not live long enough to marry and have children of his own.

Walter’s great nephews, Basil and Robert Hazell, organised the family gathering at Upper Westwood to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his passing.

His great-great niece, Jo Hazell, who teaches at Wiltshire College in Trowbridge, said: “Walter Hazell was my father's great uncle. 

“There were more than 60 people there, made up of great nephews and great nieces of Walter Hazell, and their descendants.

“It went really well. Normally the family only meets for funerals so it was nice to meet up under different circumstances.

“We had lots of tea and cake and there was much story-telling. There were lots of stories about the family that I had not heard before.

“There was a lot of interest in the family history. We made up a big family tree with some of the recent generations.

“Everyone who wanted to be there was there and there were only a couple who couldn’t make it because they were away on holiday.”

Walter Hazell’s details are recorded in full on the Winsley at War Website. He was born in Westwood in 1891 and was only 23 when war broke out.

Having enlisted as a soldier in Bradford on Avon, Walter was attached to D Company 2nd/8th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (No. 260336).

The battalion was originally formed for home defence duties but because of increasing allied casualties was soon shipped across to the Western Front.

Having been billeted firstly at Linzeux in France, D Company was moved up near to Ypres at Uhlan Farm. On August 17 the battalion relieved the 10th Royal Irish Rifles (RIR) in the support trenches and later that night did the same for the 9th RIR.

Over the next few days and nights they were subjected to constant bombardment but managed on the 20th to advance a short distance. D Company was then in turn relieved by the Bucks and Camerons and they pulled back to Ypres North Camp.

During the afternoon of the 21st they were subjected to an hourly bombardment from a High Velocity gun and Walter was killed and six other men wounded. He was awarded the Victory and British war medals.