Edward Walker
He served an Apprenticeship as a Plasterer, he was in his final year of the Apprenticeship before becoming a Master Plasterer when World War 2 started.
In 1939 he also worked as a Quarry Labourer in Nottinghamshire.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Son of : George Herbert Walker (1884 - 1951) and Harriett Walker, nee Knsey (1886 - 1951) of Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire.
Baptised : All Saints Church, Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire on the 16 January 1919, at the time of the Baptism the Family were living at : 37. Newcastle Street, Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire.
Brother of : Joseph Arthur Walker (1908 - 1926) : Katie Elizabeth Walker (1909 - 1973) : Cissie Walker (1912 - 1913) : Jack Walker (1931 - 2007).
It is believed that he was engaged to be married but his Fiance's name is not known.
Private, Edward Walker is Commemorated by a plaque on the Walker Family grave in Huthwaite Cemetery, Nottinghamshire where he is also commemorated on the Huthwaite Cenotaaph.
The Inscription on the plaque reads : "In Loving Memory of our dear Son Edward Walker, died whilst Prisoner of War in Germany, Dec. 19th 1943, aged 25 years.
Forever in our thoughts."
He enlisted in the Territorial Army, serving with A. Company, 1st/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.
In early 1940 his Battalion was deployed to Norway as part of the Allied campaign against the German occupation.
During the Battle of Lillehammer on the 3rd May 1940 he was captured and taken Prisoner by German Forces.
He was transported to Poland and registered as a Prisoner of War, assigned POW Number : 292, later : 96354.
Over the next three and a half years he was held in a series of POW camps and Forced Labour camps across Poland and Germany, beginning at Stalag XXIA at Ostrzeszow, then Stalag XXIB at Szubin, Stalag XXID at Poznan, Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel.
Later transferred to Stalag XE at Nienburg, Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf, laater renumbered Stalag 344.
He was assigned to multiple Arbeits Kommandos, (Work Detachments), often tasked with hard physical labour under harsh conditions.
Kommandos E009 at Lindburg, E183 at Bernstadt, E146 and E164 at the Steam Brickworks at Patschkau, E175 at Eichmann &Co, at Sandhubel, E168 at Gurchdorf Steinwalden and finally E196 at a Cement Works in Oppeln.
Despite constant danger and harsh punishnents for non compliance he continually tried to escape.
His first recorded attempt was in November 1940 for which he served 21 days in solitary confinement, another attempt in April 1941 resulted in more punishment, again in July 1941 resulted in more confinement.
He fled Kommando E164 in June 1942 before being captured again a few days later, in September 1942 he tried to escape from Kommando E175 but was returned to camp after being found resulting in another 10 days solitary confinement, these repeated escape attempts were made under constant intense surveillance and often brutal conditions show a remarkable level of courage and refusal to submit.
On the 19th December 1943 he made his final escape attempt from Kommando E196 in Oppeln, German records show that he died following a fatal fall whilst fleeing, his body was found at 9.35 Pm, that night.
after the War ende, returning Prisoners of War that had witnessed his death told a different story to his Mother, that he had been shot whilst trying to scale a wall during his escape.
He was buried 5 days later in Halbendorf near Oppeln and later reinterred in Krakow Rackowicki Cemetery.
Awarded : A posthumous Memtioned In Despatches in 1945 : London Gazette : Dated : 26th April 1945, it remains a solemn recognition of hisbravery and the multiple risks that he took to resist captivity.
Commemorated : Huthwaite Cenotaph, Huthwaite Cemetery, Nottinghamshire as :
Walker E.
Originally Buried : Halbendorf : P51/J17.
Reinterred : 7th September 1948 un Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery, Poland.
Grave Reference : Plot : 1A. : Row : C. : Grave : 5.
Personal Insription reads : "Ever in our thoughts, Loving Father, Mother, Kate and Jack."
Photo of Edward Walker
Plaque on the Walker Family grave in Huthwaite Cemetery, Nottinghamshire Commemorating Private, Edward Walker by Gary Crosby on the 21st June 2025.
Photo of Edward Walker
The Walker Family grave in Huthwaite Cemetery, Nottinghamshire on which Private, Edward Walker is Commemorated by Gary Crosby on the 21st June 2025.
Photo of Edward Walker
Huthwaite Cenotaph, Huthwaite Cemetery, Nottinghamshire on which Private, Edward Walker is Commemorated by Gary Crosby on the 21st June 2025.
Huthwaite Cenotaph, Huthwaite Cemetery, Nottinghamshire , names of the 1939 - 1945 Fallen on which Private, Edward Walker is Commemorated by Gary Crosby on the 21st June 2025.
Huthwaite Cenotaph, Huthwaite, Huthwaite Cemetery, Nottinghamshire, names of the 1939 - 1945 Fallen on which Private, Edward Walker is Commemorated by Gary Crosby on the 21st June 2025.