Name
Eli George Walker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9064
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 41.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford,
Not on the Rickmansworth memorials
Pre War
Eli Walker was born in 1888 in Rickmansworth, son of William (Elijah) and Elizabeth Walker, the third of 8 children. In 1891 they were living at Scots Hill in Croxley Green. In 1901, he was living with his father, apparently a widower, who was now working as a railway labourer, and with his seven siblings, at Eastbury Cottages, Watford Rural.
His parent’s marriage details have proved elusive.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Croxley Green, Herts, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 14 he lived in Watford, with his widowed father and seven siblings.
In 1911, his father was living at 58 Holywell Road, Watford, a market gardener who was apparently living apart from his wife. The 2 youngest sons were still living with him. Eli was a Private in the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment aged 22. he was stationed at St George, Bermuda.
Wartime Service
In December 1904, aged 17, Eli joined the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment. His occupation was given as labourer and he was living with his father at 50 Brightwell Road, Watford. His mother was the apparently living at 3 Ballards Buildings, Watford. In 1911, aged 22, he was in the Bedfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, stationed at St George in Bermuda.
At the outbreak of the 1st World War Private Walker enlisted in Watford and entered France on 19.10.1914 The Battle of Loos where he was killed began on September 25th1915. It was the biggest British attack of 1915 and the first time that the British used poison gas. The British suffered many casualties as they advanced over open fields within range of the German machine guns and artillery.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 19 October 1914, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Eli’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Malcolm Lennox
