Best, Walter John

Sergeant Walter John Best 

Best was born at Buncrana, Co. Donegal on 3rd June 1912 to David Best, Railway Servant and Rebecca Jane Best nee Dinsmore. They had married on 6th April 1909 at Muff, Co. Donegal. A son, David was born on 4th October 1910 at Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

In 1911 the parents and 1st born, David Thompson Best (0) were living in house 342 in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. A sister of his father, Sarah Anne Best (17) was also living in the property.

Best was educated at Foyle College, Londonderry and was a member of the 1st Eleven Rugby team. The Londonderry Sentinel of 9th October 1930 reported Walter as obtaining his Junior Certificate.

On 8th June 1931, Best joined Northern Bank at Head Office. The address on his Staff Record card was William Street, Raphoe.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Newtownstewart (1931 - Junior), Dungannon (1932 - Junior), Markets (1934 - Junior), Portadown (1938 – relief), Head Office (1938 – relief), Kells (1938– relief), Carrick-on-Shannon (1938 – relief), Head Office (1939) and Crumlin Road (1939 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Newtownstewart branch

Northern Bank, Law Courts, Victoria Street, Belfast branch

On 22nd July 1940, Best was ‘Called up for Active Service’ into the North Irish Horse as a Trooper with Service Number 7904280.  Promotion followed to Lance Corporal, Corporal and Acting Sergeant (Gazette 23rd September 1943).

The Belfast News Letter reported on 24th September 1943 that Acting Sergeant W J Best had been ‘Mentioned in Despatches’.  

Best was serving with "A" Sqn. North Irish Horse, Royal Armoured Corps as a Sergeant when he was Killed on Active Service on 23rd May 1944 aged 31 during the first day of the assault on the Hitler Line, Italy.

Best is buried in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

Photograph taken by Paul Reed while visiting Cassino War Cemetery, 2003.

The Londonderry Sentinel of 13th June 1944 reported:

The North Irish Horse 'war diary' records the following:

" ....On Thursday evening, 25th May, a burial service was held in the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Cemetery where a plot had been reserved for the North Irish Horse.  The cemetery lies about four and a half miles to the south of Pontecorvo and is enclosed on three sides by oak trees, the open side looking across the Liri Valley towards the historic Monastery Hill and Mount Cairo.  It was fitting that the men of the North Irish Horse should be buried near their Canadian comrades in arms, who fought and fell with them in the Adolf Hitler Line.  The 23rd of May took heavy toll of the regiment. Thirty-two of our friends were buried in that plot of land.  A simple and moving Service of Consecration was held at the cemetery and the site has left associations deeply imprinted upon the minds of the Canadian and British Troops concerned. ...."

The thirty-two men were later reburied in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

Best is also remembered on a family headstone at St Eunan's Cathedral, Raphoe, Donegal.

Images and information from the findagrave website.