Capt William Walker MC RAMC (WW1 + WW2)

[Esskay]

Looking for some more information on this man please

If (and it's a big if with such a common name) we have the correct man he looks to have qualified (University of Aberdeen) and been registered 10th July 1914.

With such an early entry date is he likely to have been involved as a Territorial??

The 1915 and 1919 Medical Register have an address for him - 23 Rothbury Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle on Tyne

1923/1927/1931 editions - he is c/o the same address on his MIC (presumably a Bank) - he is understood to have been in India - but no obvious entries on passenger lists

1935 and 1939 editions back in the UK - 43 Alma Place, North Shields

Understood to have also served in WW2

I've only found one 1919 LG entry for him

Can't find anything about his MC or service in either war and no obvious obit

In 2007 - the following lot was advertised at auction:

Colonel William Walker M.C., his Deputy Lieutenant for The Shire of Renfrew certificate; and four albums of family related photographs (military and civilian, 1937-1948) - was this the same man??

Can anyone offer any help

TIA

SueK

[BJanman]

Sue

He wasn't Territorial Force, he was a permanent regular officer. Born in Aberdeen, commissioned Lt on the 7th May 1914. He was in India 1921-24 and 1926-1930. His MC was gazetted on 26th July 1918.

I note No 3 General Hospital on the MIC, and his disembarkation date is 15th August 1914, which is the same time No 3 arrived in France. Looks as if he was with the 2nd Cavalry Division at some point too.

I would contact the AMS Museum, being a permanent regular officer they may have a file on him there.

Barbara

[Esskay]

Barbara - thanks so much for that information - could you estimate a year of birth - it's such a popular name (better not say common!)

A couple of questions though - would the addresses in the medical registers have been his private addresses then do you think - also would the Army have "paid" for his medical training - or paid him while he was training do you think or would he have just qualified and then immediately joined up

Thanks again

Sue

[BJanman]

He was born on 25th December 1890.

I've always assumed that the address in the medical registers are business addresses, the reason is because sometimes a doctor can be in more than one area of the directory and the addresses are different. This is a question I have intended to ask my GP, in case he knows but am usually too ill to remember to ask when I see him.

I know that at that time a person had to be a qualified doctor to gain a commission in the medical services, today they can work their way up through the ranks. I also know that the new reforms meant that officer training colleges were formed for training is specialist areas and military work in the field. I have not read any information that states the army paid for doctors to qualify, everything I've read indicates that they were already doctors (or were about to qualify) when they joined but their training continued in military affairs.

Barbara

[doolah]

Hi Babara,

Thank you very much for your replies. Esskay had originally posted on my behalf as my registration to this site had not yet been approved.

William was my great grandfather and I have been trying to find information on him for ages, the family had various bits of info but all very sketchy and we were unsure as to which tales were true and which were not!!

I have been told a lovely tale about when he was in India in the 1920s and would love to be able to find out if this was true, apprently he was kidnapped by rebels who then took him to thier villlage to deliver a baby, he saved the life of the mother and child and was released soon afterwards.

I have been unable to find the london gazette record of his military cross, I have searched under the date you gave but it doesnt see to come up with anything?

I am unable to gain access to his military records as I am not his next of kin ( my grandmother, his daughter is still alive although quite elderly now!) so any further information you are able to give me from public records would be much appreciated.

Thank you very much for the information

Julia

[Esskay]

Hi Again Barbara - thanks for the additional information and helping to clarify those points.

I have tried to PM you with a a further WW2 question on him but looks like your inbox is full - I guess you must get inundated with mail having such an amazing knowledge of the RAMC as you do

Maybe I could try again later

Cheers

SueK

[BJanman]

Hello Julia and Sue

The records I have do state that the MC was gazetted on the 26th July 1918. The LG does have issue dates which are usually a couple of days before the recorded date, so it might be worth trying to find it with the 22nd, 23rd or 24th July 1918. However I have found the citation in the British Medical Journal, which states:-

"He proceeded to a village under heavy fire and succeeded attending and evacuating several wounded. He only desisted when the enemy entered the village. Later, he succeeded in releasing a party of stretcher-bearers who had been cut off. Throughout the operations he has shown the utmost energy and courage."

Sue, I will send you a PM with my email address.

All the best

Barbara

[BJanman]

Found it here

[doolah]

Babara,

Thank you again for the information, it has been wonderful getting some more information on my great grandfather.

Julia

[george emmons]

From: Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army, 1660 - 1960, Vol II, London, 1968 at p 186;

1159. William Walker. b 25 Dec 1890 at Aberdeen. MB; MD Aberd 1932. SR: Lt 7 May 14. Mobd 6 Aug 14. Capt 1 Apr 15. PRAC: Capt 1 May 19 (6 Feb 18). A/Maj 4 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21. Maj 6 Aug 26. Retd 2 Nov 32. BEF France 1914-19. Egypt 1919-21. India 1921-24 and 1926-30 (invalided). Specialist in Pathology. MC 26 Jul 18. 1914 S. BWM. VM.

I trust that this extract proves helpful.

George

[melliget]

He was born on 25th December 1890.

My grandfather's date of birth (no connection).

Julia. Do you know the year your great grandfather died? I note that the subject of this thread indicates he also served in WW2..?

regards,

Martin

[doolah]

Hi Martin,

He died on the 24th July 1942, he wasnt killed in action though, he died in Newcastle which was where his wife and daughter were at the time.

George- thanks for the extract, I am trying to get hold of a copy of the book you have quoted from

Thank you both for your input

Julia

My grandfather's date of birth (no connection).

Julia. Do you know the year your great grandfather died? I note that the subject of this thread indicates he also served in WW2..?

regards,

Martin

[george emmons]

Julia,

You're quite welcome.

The record seems to imply that he had no World War service having been invalided in 1930, perhaps he was involved with the Home Guard from 1939 through 1942.

Cheers,

George

[Esskay]

Hi George - we have now managed to find some LG entries for 1939 including his final promotion to Colonel (and a Territorial mention) and he is commemorated on CWGC and the WW2 Army Roll of Honour - the interesting thing is that the book didn't apparently pick this service up.

Cheers

Sue

[melliget]

He died on the 24th July 1942, he wasnt killed in action though, he died in Newcastle which was where his wife and daughter were at the time.

Julia.

Thanks. I thought perhaps there might be some details published in The Times around the time of his death but I could only find what could possibly be his brief death notice (see attached).

I assume this is his entry on CWGC here. So he was a Colonel when he died? I would have expected to find more details given his rank.

regards,

Martin