Bretherton, Walter Kington

BRETHERTON,

WALTER KINGTON

BORN 27 AUGUST 1871

Walter Kington Bretherton

was born on 27 August 1871, a son of Edward Bretherton (b 1835) and Sarah Georgiana Bretherton (b 1838).

In the 1881 the census shows he was the youngest of eight children with four brothers and three sisters: Alice M M (b 1858, undergraduate teacher), George H (b 1860, Lieutenant Hereford Militia), Edith G (b 1865), Frank A (b 1866), Willoughby J (1867), Ethel W (b 1869) and Gilbert Leonard (b 30 October 1869). The whole family was born in Gloucestershire.

Walter entered the School in January 1882, aged 10, together with his brother Gilbert, aged 12. An older brother, Willoughby James, entered in September 1881, aged 14. At that time, the family lived at Brookthorpe, Hampton Road, Redland and his father was recorded as a Commission Agent.

Gilbert left the School in July 1888, aged 17 and Walter similarly left the VI Classics form in July 1890, aged 18. Walter went to the University of Oxford in 1890 to read Classics, graduating in 1894. Later he attained the Diplôme Supérieur de Alliance Française, in Paris.

He went on to register as a teacher and work in a number of schools:

• Kelso High School, Scotland, 1895-1899 • University College Preparatory School, Holly Hill, Hampstead, London, 1899-1902 • Queen Mary’s School, Walsall, 1902-1903 • Hartford House School, Nr Winchfield, 1903-1906

On 8 August 1906 Passenger Lists show he boarded the ship City of Karachi, destination Bombay.

His career in teaching continued as follows: • Bishop Cotton School, Simla, India, 1906-1909. • Headmaster – Hewett Kahattraja High School, 1909-1912 • Senior Assistant Master – La Martinière College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 1912.

In 1912 Walter was a Captain of the Simla Volunteer Rifles. Later he served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, attached to the Supply and Transport Corps.

He was gazetted as a Lieutenant in May 1916 though sadly died on 13 May 1916, aged 44. His Commonwealth War grave is in the Ferozepore Military Cemetery, India (grave reference Plot C Grave 203). He left a mother Sarah Georgina Bretherton (widow).

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