Name
Charles Henry Walker
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/12/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
68919
Royal Field Artillery
40th Div. Ammunition Col.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HERMIES HILL BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. F. 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN GOD'S KEEPING
UK & Other Memorials
Radlett Town Memorial, Christchurch Memorial, Radlett, Not on the Wheathampstead memorials
Pre War
Charles Henry Walker was born in 1889 in Wheathampstead, Herts, the son of Harry (Henry) Walker and Harriet (nee Jackson) and baptised 24 Nov 1889 at Wheathampstead. He was one of seven children, although one had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census, the family were living in Wheathampstead Hill, Wheathampstead, where his father was a Blacksmith. By 1901 they had moved to Auriol Cottages, Station Road, Aldenham, Radlett. Herts and in 1911 his father remained working as a Blacksmith and the family were living at 5 Station Road, Aldenham, Radlett, although Charles was not living with them. (Unable to find Charles on the 1911 Census).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Charles however it known that he enlisted in Guildford, Surrey and served in France with the Royal Field Artillery, as Driver 68919 with 40th Div. Ammunition Column.
He probably went to France sometime in Jun 1916 with the 40th Division. He may have been present at the Battle of Ancre (a late battle of the Somme, 1916). In 1917 the Division was deployed on the Cambrai Front and were part of the Cambrai Operations in November 1917. The 40th Division were involved to fighting around Bourlon Wood (23 – 28 Nov 1917).
Charles was killed in action on 5 December 1917 during the aftermath of the Battle of Cambrai. He is buried in Hermies Hill British Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother, recorded as Mrs H Walker, 19 Station Road, Radlett, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "IN GOD'S KEEPING".
His father received a war gratuity of £13 10s and pay owing of £10 12s 3d. His mother initially received a pension of 3s 6d a week, which was later increased to 5s a week.
An obituary and picture of Charles appeared in the Herts Advertiser on 5 January 1918.
Brother to William Harold Walker, Bombardier 32981 MM, served with Royal Field Artillery and who died of wounds on 4 Apr 1918 and is buried at Picquigny British Cemetery, France.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
