Name
Albert William Walker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/02/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
T/15071
Army Service Corps
No. 1 H.T. Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BISHOP'S HATFIELD (ST. LUKE) CHURCHYARD
I. I. 16.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Not on the Bishops Hatfield memorials
Pre War
Albert was born in the village of Hound near Southampton, Hants, around 1884.
In the 1891 census Albert was living with his grandparents George and Elizabeth Plowman and two uncles at Hound Road, Bullocks Heath, Hound St Mary, Southampton. George Plowman was porter on the L. & S.W. Railway.
He signed up to the Army as a Boy Soldier in 1899 and the 1901 census records Albert as a patient at the District Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot Military in Stanhope & Wellington Lines and in 1911 was with the Army Service Corps in Gibraltar.
The record shows that Albert attested into the Army Service Corps at Netley, as a boy soldier at the age of 14yrs 9mths, for 12 years in 1899. He was recorded as ony 5’ 1/8” with a 28 inch chest, with brown hair, grey eyes . Previously he had been working as a messenger.
He was on Home service between 10 July 1899 and 9 March 1908, then served in Gibraltar to 24 March 1912. Home service again to 3 October 1914 and then in France up to his death.
During this period he received certificates for education om 15 March 1900 and 18th June 1900. In September 1901 he suffered Hypertrophy (Tonsil) a Hernia in November 1902, for which he received a truss. He qualified as a Saddler (Superior) on 30 June 1903.
The Hernia caused more problems in February 1904 and was eventually operated on in November 1905. He was promoted to Corporal in October 1906, suffered Impetigo November to December 1908, reengaged for further service on 19 August 1910 and suffered from Conjunctivitis in May 1911.
His next of kin was given as his mother, first names Mrs Coombs of Edward Cottage, Hound Road, Netley Abbey, Hants and then Mrs Halley, Bakers Arms, Hatfield.
Officially recorded as born in Hound, Hants and was living in Hatfield when he enlisted in Netley.
Wartime Service
He was already a serving soldier when war was declared, but was promoted to Saddler Sergeant on 5 August 1915 and went to France on 4 October 1914.
In was in trouble in November when he got drunk in Boulogne as was initial reduced to the ranks, but that was changed to reduction to Corporal.
He was admitted to hospital on 6 January 1915 with what appears to be syphilis of the scalp, which he claimed happened in a French barbers. He must have returned to England, because he died on 19 February 1915, in the 4th London General Hospital after an operation.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Magazine of March 1915, recorded: “Hatfield Roll of Honour. Sergeant Walker’s death under an operation was a cruel blow to his mother, Mrs Halley. Sergeant Walker had been invalided home from the front, where he had been in action some time. Though not a Hatfield man, he belonged to us through his relations, for whom much sympathy is felt. His funeral was held on the 26th with military honours as was fitting....”
Awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
Albert’s Soldiers Effect record suggests that his mother’s first name was Elizabeth and that he had a sister Maud, as £18, 18s ?d was authorised to “Mo Elizabeth on 13 December 1915 and £9 13s 19d to “Sis Maud E”. Later (11 August 1919) his war gratuity of £8 was split equally between “Mo Mrs Eliz’th Halley and Sis Mrs Maud Castle”.
Albert is buried in a non-CWGC grave in Bishops Hatfield (St Lukes) Churchyard, with the inscription:
"In loving memory Sadler Sergeant Albert William Walker A.S.C.
who died on active service February 1915 aged 30 years
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Halley (Mother) of Back Street (Church Street) Hatfield received and “In Memoriam & Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
