Name
Hubert James Walker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Acting Corporal
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
The name H J Walker appears in the Hertfordshire Express of July 11th 1914, which reports him as being a steward at the Pirton Transept Fête.
Given the middle name, the parish and census records suggest only one possible candidate. They confirm that Hubert was born on August 1st 1883 to James and Ann Walker (née Kingsley), and so he would have been thirty-three at the outbreak of war. In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Arthur Walker for more family details.
In 1911 he was living and working on his father’s farm, Little Green Farm. Like his brothers Jesse and Arthur, ‘A Farmer’s son working on farm’.
An undated newspaper cutting from the village scrapbook incorrectly refers to Herbert James Walker, but confirms his parents as Mr and Mrs James Walker. It goes on to add that he was serving in the Beds Yeomanry in Egypt. Another brother, who must have been either Harry or Jesse, was at home working on the farm as their father was an invalid.
By 1918, he was recorded as acting Corporal 11092, County of London Yeomanry, with his home address the same as his brother Arthur’s, Little Green Farm.
He married Ellen and they probably continued living in Pirton for the rest of their lives as they are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard. Hubert died on June 19th 1974 aged ninety and Ellen on December 29th 1977 aged eighty-eight.
Acknowledgments
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
