Name
James Hope Walker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/03/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BISHOP'S HATFIELD (ST. LUKE) CHURCHYARD
2. I. 9.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, Dagmar House School Memorial, Hatfield, Not on the Radwell memorial*1
Pre War
James was born in Kirkliston, Scotland in 1897, the son of Thomas George and Helen Black Walker later of Symonds Hyde Hatfield
In the 1901 census James 4 was living with his parents ton, Scotland in 1897, lived with his parents and siblings at Hyde Hall Sandon, Hertfordshire. His father was a farmer. By 1911 they had moved to Symonds Hyde, Hatfield. Still with his parents and now six siblings and a servant, where his father is now farming
James Hope Walker was a pupil at the Hatfield Collegiate Schools, Dagmar House.
Wartime Service
James joined the 14th London Regiment, served in France as Private 4335with the Regiment from 4th July 1915. He was commissioned on 25th September 1916 when he transferred to the Flying Core 25 September 1916.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of May 1915, in the nineth list of men from Hatfield, recorded: “Walker James H, Symonds Hyde, London Scottish.”, and then in April 1917: “Hatfield Roll Of Honour - Killed J. Walker RFC. Our very deep sympathy will go out to our much respected Churchwarden Mr. Walker and his Wife on the death of their brave son while flying.”
Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
James' grave (not CWGC) bears the inscription:
In Loving Memory Of
JAMES HOPE WALKER
2ND. LIEUT., R.F.C. WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY
16TH MARCH 1917, AGED 20 YEARS.
JAMES HOPE WALKER
2ND. LIEUT., R.F.C. WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY
16TH MARCH 1917, AGED 20 YEARS.
Confusingly James has another inscription on a headstone in Redbourn (St. Mary) Churchyard. That inscription reads
IN LOVING MEMORY Of
JAMES HOPE WALKER
2ND. LIEUT., R.F.C. WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY
16TH MARCH 1917,
BORN3RD JULY 1896.
INTERRED AT ST. LUKES. HATFIELD, HERTS.
"UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS AND TYHE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY"
BORN3RD JULY 1896.
INTERRED AT ST. LUKES. HATFIELD, HERTS.
"UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS AND TYHE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY"
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs T. G. Walker (Mother) of Symonds Hyde Farm, received an “In Memoriam & Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
