John Walker
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the son of William Jebbett Walker and his second wife Maria (née Walker). William Jebbett Walker was born in Mansfield in 1850, the son of John Walker and his wife Mary Ann (née Jebbett, m. 1847). William married first Margaret Colly (19) at Mansfield St John the Evangelist in 1871; his wife died the following year. William married Maria Walker at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene in March 1873; Maria signed the register with her mark. Maria was born in Mansfield in 1852 (bap. SS Peter & Paul November 1852), the daughter of Thomas Walker, a framework knitter, and his wife Ann. Maria completed the 1911 Census with the information that she had been married for 39 years and had had 12 children of whom only six were still living. However, the six surviving children probably included a child by William Bingley with whom she was living at the time of the census in 1901 and 1911. Six children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911: Henry (Harry) b. Radford Nottingham 1875, Annie b. Radford abt. 1877, Margaret b. Derby 1883, John b. Stockton on Tees abt. 1885, Minnie b. Stockton on Tees 1890 and Ernest b. Mansfield birth registered 1893 J/F/M (Ernest Walker Bingley). In 1881, William, who was employed as a labourer (his occupation at the time of both his marriages was moulder), Maria and their two children, Harry and Anne, were living in Hartlepool, lodgers in the household of the Burn family. By 1891 they had moved to Crown Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, where William was again working as an iron moulder. He and Maria now had five children: Henry an iron moulder, Annie, Margaret, John and Minnie. In November 1891 the eldest son Henry (17), a miner, enlisted in the Militia, 4th Sherwood Foresters Notts & Derby Regiment (1574 Private) giving his address as Mansfield, suggesting that the family had moved back to their parents' home town. Henry transferred from the Militia to the 3rd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (4238 Private) on a 12 year engagement (7 years with the Colours, 5 years Army Reserve) on 12 August 1893. He was still living in Mansfield and gave his father's address as Massey (?Street), Mansfield. Henry was still working as a collier. However, his subsequent punishment record was such that he was discharged from the army on 17 February 1896 as 'incorrigible and worthless.' He had served for 2 years 190 days of which he forfeited 125 days (imprisonment on at least six occasions). According to a newspaper report of John's death in 1916, Harry was serving with the Sherwood Foresters and a notice Harry placed in a Mansfield newspaper in September 1918 commemorating his brother's death recorded that he was serving in Palestine. Maria was living at 4 Wards Yard, Mansfield, in 1901, where she was housekeeper to William Bingley (married), an iron foundry labourer. Also in the home were four of Maria's six children, Margaret, a cotton spinner, John a coal miner, Minnie and Ernest Walker (sic). Her eldest daughter Annie had married Albert Buttery in 1900. The eldest son Harry has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. Maria was still living with William Bingley at 4 Wards Yard in 1911 although she was now recorded as the head of household. Only Minnie, a cotton clearer (cotton doubling mill) was still living at home. The second daughter, Margaret had married Arthur Wilkinson in 1903 and was living in Mansfield. Minnie was to marry Ernest Ball in 1913. John married Mary Bowskill in April 1905; they had three children, Minnie b. October 1906, William Jebet (reg. James) b. June 1908 and John Thomas b. December 1912. In 1911 John, a coal miner, Mary and their two children were living at 29 Birkland Street, Mansfield. Also in the household was Harriett Bowskill who may have been Mary's younger sister. William Jebbett Walker (61, b. Mansfield), a moulder in an iron foundry and recorded on the census as a widower, was a boarder in the home of Charles and Susannah Narracott in Stalham, Norfolk. John's mother, Maria, died in 1918 (reg. O/N/D Mansfield). John's widow Mary completed a form for the army in August 1919 listing her late husband's surviving blood relatives; she and their three children were still living at 29 Birkland Street, Mansfield: Father : William Jebbet Walker, Stockton on Tees. Mother: deceased. Brothers: Harry Walker (44), George Street Mansfield. Ernest Walker (25), Bancroft Lane, Mansfield (31999, ASC 9th (-) Field Ambulance BEF). Sisters: Annie Buttery (42), Laurel Avenue Mansfield. Margaret Wilkinson (36), 19 Bancroft Lane Mansfield. Minnie Ball (28), Lord Street Mansfield. Note: A report of John's death in 1916 recorded that Ernest was serving in the Royal Artillery and a family notice commemorating John's death which was published in a local newspaper in 1918 included Ernest's name and that he was [serving] in France. John's father, William Jebbett Walker, died in 1923 (reg. J/F/M Stockton Durham).
The 112th Field Ambulance RAMC served with the 30th Division which was formed in April 1915 from units of Kitchener's 5th New Army. It transferred to the 16th (Irish) Division in September 1915. John enlisted on 18 August 1915. He was 30 years old, occupation miner. He joined the RAMC at Sheffield on 18 August 1915 and granted 5th rate Corps pay (Private). He embarked with his unit at Southampton on 18 December 1915 and disembarked at Le Havre the following day (112 Field Ambulance). John was killed in action on 7 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 4 C). Service: Home 18 August 1915-17 (sic) December 1915 (122 days). BEF 18 (sic) December 1915-8 September 1916 (264 days). Total 1 year 21 days. Note: the dates of Home and BEF service do not tally with the dates of embarkation/disembarkation. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. 'The Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit ... Most Field Ambulances came under command of a Division, and each had special responsibility for the care of casualties of one of the Brigades of the Division. The theoretical capacity of the Field Ambulance was 150 casualties, but in battle many would need to deal with very much greater numbers. The Field Ambulance was responsible for establishing and operating a number of points along the casualty evacuation chain, from the Bearer Relay Posts which were up to 600 yards behind the Regimental Aid Posts in the front line, taking casualties rearwards through an Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) to the Main Dressing Station (MDS). It also provided a Walking Wounded Collecting Station, as well as various rest areas and local sick rooms. The Field Ambulances would usually establish 1 ADS per Brigade, and 1 MDS for the Division.' (www.longlongtrail.co.uk)
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 2 March 1916: Photograph. Worked at Crown Farm Colliery. His brother Henry was serving with the Sherwood Foresters and brother Ernest with the Royal Artillery. 5 October 1916: Photograph and letters included in the report. Mansfield Reporter, 24 November 1916: ‘Memorial Service. On Sunday evening a memorial service at the close of evensong was held at St Lawrence’s Church, to Private J Walker RAMC, Birkland-street, Corporal JH Slack, Gladstone-street, 11th Leicesters, and Private E Renshaw, Newgate-lane, 16th Sherwoods. The Rev. J Lowndes took the service, and Mr H Davis was at the organ and played the Dead March in ‘Saul.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his widow Mary and her three children, Minnie, William and John. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: widow Mary Walker was his sole legatee. Mary was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 6 pence a week for herself and her three children with effect from 26 March 1917. Mansfield Reporter, ‘In Memoriam,’ 7 September 1917: ‘Walker. In loving memory of John (Jack) Walker, age 32 (sic), RAMC, who fell September 7th, 1916. One year has passed, our hearts still sore, As time goes on, we miss him more, His loving smile, his clear, sweet face Never on earth can be replaced. From his sorrowing Mother, Sister Annie, and Brother Ernest in France.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 6 September 1918: ‘Walker. In loving memory of Private John Walker RAMC, who was killed in action on the 7th September , 1916. Death divides, but memory clings. From his brother Harry in Palestine.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 6 September 1918: ‘Walker. In loving memory of Joh (Jack) Walker who fell in action, September 7th, 1916 aged 31 years. Fondly remembered by Mother, sister Annie, and brother Ernest (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) ‘In Memoriam’ notices were placed on 5 September 1919 by ‘Brother Harry and Wife’ and ‘Annie and Albert [Buttery]'; by ‘Annie’ on 3 September 1920 and by ‘Annie and Maggie’ on 2 September 1921.
