AS we mark a century since the Great War came to an end we are looking back at some of the brave Essex men and women who signed up to do their bit for their country.

Colchester born Walter Jarman was among those.

As the 100th anniversary of the conclusion of the conflict approaches, later this year, his grand-daughter Susan Wilson, is sharing his story.

A keen historian herself, Susan, has researched Walter’s life and his contribution to the First World War and is making a point of speak out about him as part of the centenary.

Born in 1878 in Stanway Colchester, Walter was the youngest son of George Jarman and Emma Hillyard.

In 1899 he married Jane Joslin, Susan has photographs that were taken on their engagement in her collection, and they raised their two daughters Alice May, who was born in 1900 and Lily, who joined her in 1902.

The family continued to live in Stanway.

Susan, who began looking into Walter’s life a decade ago, explains after war was declared in August 1914, Walter enlisted fairly quickly.

His posting was within the Army Veterinary Corps, which Susan thinks may have been down to what he had previously done for a living.

She explains : “He was posted to the Army Veterinary Corps and we think this is probably because he had worked with horses as a ‘carman’ and his eldest brother George was Head Groom at Kent Blaxill in Colchester.”

After his initial training Walter joined the British Expeditionary Forces in France in January 1915, to serve with the Number One Convalescent Horse Depot at Gournay in Normandy.

She adds : “Gournay en Bray, was ideally placed as a base to care for sick and wounded horses, having a railway station and it is close to Rouen on the River Seine, with access to the ports, yet was far enough behind the front line.”

At the start of the War the town’s population was 4,000 and its main industry was butter production.

The actual depot was at Ferrieres, a small village adjoining Gournay, with a population of around 2000.

At the depot horses and mules were sent from the front for convalescence and were either nursed back to health and returned to the front, sold at auction or sent to the abattoirs in Gournay.

It was very busy at the depot with men, horses and supplies arriving every day.

Susan says at its peak in 1918 it was home to 166 officers, 1045 men and 832 horses.

“I do not know the exact duties carried out by Walter but the postcards that he sent home give an idea of the activities at the depot.

“One of the postcards gives an idea of the buildings.

“In it Walter is on the cart holding the child, and the dog held by a soldier at the end of the cart appears to be the unit’s mascot as he appears on other photos too,” says Susan, who lives in Chelmsford.

Walter died before she was born so she did not know her great-grandfather.

“Walter did his best to observe Kitchener’s order to British soldiers to be ‘invariably courteous, considerate and kind.

“Never do anything to injure or destroy property, and always look upon looting as a disgraceful act’

“But he wrote to say ‘’it’s not easy work to keep fit and smart, but you can see I have looked after myself up to the present and please God I shall continue to do so, I don’t believe in disgracing these clothes if I can help it, I want to come home with a clean sheet”

In these photographs belonging to his family, Walter also shared lighter moments including one before a concert, in which he is laughing.

He says : “The fat old boy on my right is the cook. I call him daddy because he often tells me he will box my ears.”

The collection also features Walter in uniform with members of his family, something soldiers on leave often did when they returned home.

In the photograph of Walter with his brother, his good conduct stripe can be seen on his left sleeve while another shows the young daughters he left at home in 1914 were growing up fast into young ladies.

Susan, who is a volunteer at Galleywood Heritage Centre in Chelmsford, says her father told her Walter did not speak of his experiences to her father, his grandson, but expressed great disappointment that despite fighting the “war to end all wars”, England was at war again in the Second World War.

Despite often being known as the “War to End All Wars”, as Walter poignantly stated to his grandson, this was sadly untrue.

It lasted from July 28 1014 to November 11 1918 and involved more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans.

Colchester itself played a vital role in the war during that time, receiving thousands of wounded soldiers to its field hospitals and becoming home to many more who were sent there for training purposes.

Walter’s story will be among those featured at a special exhibition at Galleywood Heritage Centre on Sunday November 18.

* If you would like to share the story of your relative in the Great War contact 01206 508186.