Dates:
War Service:
TRUSCOTT, WALLACE AMBROSE Rifleman [303020] with the 2nd/5th Battalion London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) died aged 32 on the 13 May 1918 in Lewisham Military Hospital.
Wallace attested on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 17th May 1916. On the 20th May he was posted to 5th Bn, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) as Rifleman 4958. He initially deployed with the 1/5th Bn to France on 2nd October 1916. He returned to England suffering from Myalgia on 22nd January 1917. On 11th June 1917 he returned to active service in France and remained with 1/5th Bn until being transferred to 2/5th Bn on 9th July 1917.
On 20th September 1917, Wallace was wounded in the assault on Dimple Trench (St Julien). He was evacuated to England and admitted to the Northumberland War Hospital on 28th September, his principal injury being a gun shot wound to the back, resulting in paralysis of the lower limbs. An X-ray showed a bullet lodged in his spine, which was fractured.
A Medical Board held on 8th October 1917 found for Total Incapacity, attributable to Active Service. Wallace was discharged on 29th October 1917 and awarded a full pension. He died on 13th May 1918 in Lewisham War Hospital. The causes of death were (1) Gunshot wound of the spinal cord. (2) Paralysis. Exhaustion.
Location of Memorial:
The sacrifice of Wallace A Truscott is commemorated on three memorials in the London Borough of Lewisham: Lewisham War Hospital; Church of the Good Shepherd, Lee; St Mildreds Church, Lee.
Details:
Husband of Elsie Truscott, of Lee and father of Derrick. He shares a grave in Ladywell Cemetery with Elsie’s parents [Plot G Grave 349] and his epitaph reads:
ALSO OF WALLY DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND OF
ELSIE TRUSCOTT
(AND SON-IN-LAW OF THE ABOVE)
DIED OF WOUNDS RECIEVED IN FRANCE MAY 13TH 1918
AGED 32 YEARS
EASE AFTER PAIN. PEACE AFTER WAR.
Source:
Contributed By: Phil Evans via Great War Forum website
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