Name
Charles Walker
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/06/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/7383
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not on the Willian Memorial
Pre War
Charles was born in 1881 in Willian, so far we have been unable to identify his parents, but presumably one of them in listed in the 1881 census detailed below as one of John Walker’s older children.
In 1881 Charles was found as the grandson of widower John Walker, aged 11 months, living at 29 Church Yard Cottage, Willian. His children were listed as Mary (21 working as a strawplaiter), Sarah (20 also a strawplaiter), William (17) and Joseph (12) – both agricultural labourers, George (12), John (7), Alfred (3) and grandson Charles - 11 months.
Charles has not been found again until his marriage to Helen Pateman (b 12/11/1885) in 1904. They had four daughters: Gladys Irene (b 7/11/1904), Lilian May (b 16/7/1907), Doris Evelyn (b 5/3/1909) and Nellie (b 24/11/1910). All were present in toe 1911 census when they were living at 15 Chapmans Yard, Queen Street, Hitchin. Charles was working as a labourer bricklayer. The census recorded they had been married for 6 years with 4 children
Two further children were born Amelia Lois (b 24/12/1912) and Charles Henry (b 21/8/1914).
Officially Charles was recorded as born in Willian, Herts. and was living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
He probably enlisted in 1914.
Wartime Service
Charles was allocated the Regimental Number 4/7383. He was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Regiment and entered France on 13 May 1915 and was killed in action in Belgium.
At the time of his death, the 1st Battalion was in the Ypres Salient and throughout June alternated between the front line on Hill 60 and in support on the railway embankment. On the 20th June 1915 two mines were exploded under the British trenches, but did not cause casualties among the Bedfords. However, the trenches were badly damaged, which no doubt resulted in casualties from shellfire later.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Panels 31 & 33 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £3 3s 1d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Helen and their children, on 28 October 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her 19 March 1917 by which time she had remarried.
His pension cards record Helen Walker as his widow and as his dependant, living at 15 Chapmans Yard, Hitchin. It also records their children as Gladys Irene (b 7/11/1904), Lilian May (b 16/7/1907), Doris Evelyn (b 5/3/1909), Nellie (b 24/11/1910), Amelia Lois (b 24/12/1912) and Charles Henry (b 21/8/1914). She was awarded a pension of 26s 6d a week for her and their children from 10 January 1916.
Helen later married Joseph Dominique De Fre and lived at 2 Aytoun Road, Brixton, London S.W.. It was noted that she was ‘unworthy’ -presumably due to re-marriage and her pension was suspended. The children were still allocated 16s 6d a week.
Charles was the brother in law of Private L. M. Pateman who was killed in action on the 17th February 1917. His home was in Chapman's Yard, Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
