1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 26696 George Walker
- Age: 34
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
- Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.
George Walker was born on the 27th August 1881 in Liverpool, the son of Matthew Walker and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Deam) who were married on Christmas Day 1880 at St Mary's Church, Kirkdale. Matthew was a gas-fitter of Kirkdale, father Matthew deceased, whilst Elizabeth was also of Kirkdale, father Francis deceased.
George was baptised on the 25th September 1881 at St Matthew's Church, Scotland Road, father was a labourer of Epsom Street, Vauxhall.
His father Matthew jnr appears on the 1861 Census at Strawberry Gardens, West Derby Road. His Grandfather, Matthew, is aged 54, a publican born in Liverpool, grandmother Sarah is aged 37 born in Harrow on Hill, Essex, their daughter Sarah 16 (who will become George’s guardian), niece Janet aged 15, and son Matthew jnr aged 4.
After their marriage in 1880 father Matthew, aged 23, a gasfitter appears on the 1881 Census at Epsom Street with his wife Mary E. also aged 23. Widowed mother Sarah Walker aged 55 is also present.
On the 1891 Census, George is living with his Aunt Sarah (nee Walker) at 70 Kensington, Liverpool. Head James Holden is aged 51, a general labourer born in Liverpool, wife Sarah Holden is aged 45, born in Chester. They were married in 1865 at St James' Church, Toxteth and had 3 children. Also present are son George Holden aged 24, a book keeper, son James Holden is aged 20, a hairdresser, and married daughter Jane Shuttleworth aged 22, her husband James Shuttleworth aged 23, a sailor, and nephew George Walker aged 9, a scholar, born in Liverpool.
Both his parents were still alive though, living at 27 Lemon Street, Kirkdale with his siblings (born to mother Deam/Dean), Matthew 8, William 7, Sarah 5, James 3 and Mary 2. By 1895 they had moved to 46 Evelyn Street.
His father died, aged 40, in the March quarter of 1898.
His mother, Mary, remarried to widow Thomas Hughes on the 02nd April 1899 at St Mary's Church, Kirkdale. Thomas was a 36 year old engine fitter of 50 Evelyn Street, father William a clerk, whilst Mary was aged 40 of 46 Evelyn Street, father Francis deceased. They had a daughter Mary Elizabeth Hughes in 1901.
On the 1901 Census George is still living with his Aunt Sarah at 70 Kensington. Head James Holden is aged 61, a cotton porter, his wife Sarah Holden is aged 55, a toy dealer, widowed son George Holden is aged 34, a law clerk, grandson Alfred aged 8, grandson James aged 3mths, and nephew George Walker aged 19, a van owner.
His mother is meanwhile living at 49 Smith Street, Kirkdale. Head of household is Thomas Hughes is aged 38, an engine fitter born in Liverpool, new wife Mary is aged 40, with his step-children (incorrectly as Hughes), Matthew 18 a dock labourer, William 17 a dock labourer, Sarah 15 an envelope stamper, James 13, Ellen 9, Frank (incorrecty recorded William) 7, and Robert 4. They also have a servant and 2 lodgers.
Thomas Hughes drops off the Electoral Roll at Evelyn Street in 1896, he probably died aged 44, followed by George’s mother, Mary Elizabeth, aged 50 in 1907.
On the 1911 Census he is still living with his Aunt Sarah at 55 Guelph Street, Kensington. Head of household James Holden is aged 71, a cotton porter, wife Sarah Holden is aged 66. They have been married for 45 years and have had 3 children. Their widowed son, George Holden, is aged 44, a law clerk, grandson Alfred aged 18, a timber clerk, grandson James aged 10, at school, nephew George Walker aged 29, a hall porter at a hotel.
George’s siblings are now living at 67 Louis Street, Scotland Road. Head Matthew Walker is aged 28, a labourer in a shipyard, sister Nellie aged 19, brother Bob aged 14, a grocer’s errand boy, and step-sister Mary Hughes aged 10, at school.
George married Agnes Wilson on the 06th May 1912 at West Derby Register Office. He gave his address as 55 Guelph Street, father Matthew, a deceased plumber. His wife Agnes was born in Aldershot on the 17th May 1892, her father James Wilson, a deceased boilermaker. They went on to have one child, a son George Henry born on the 05th December 1912. On his sons birth registration, George senior was a public house barman.
Wilson family history:-
On the 1901 census the Wilson family are living at 19 Upper Baker Street, off Boaler St. Father, James, is aged 53, a labourer with Cunard, born in Liverpool, mother Catherine is aged 49, born Buncrana, Co.Donegal, Ireland, children Kate 19 born Woolwich, William 16 born Northampton, Mary 14 born Ipswich and Agnes 9 born Aldershot.
On the 1911 census the Wilson family have moved to 51 Boaler Street. Widowed mother Catherine is aged 59, daughters Catherine Riley, married 29, Mary 24 and Agnes 19, all dressmakers.
George enlisted in Liverpool on or about 25th May 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 26696 and crossed to France on 29th December 1915, as part of a reinforcement draft.
He was killed in action on the 01st July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme during the Liverpool Pals attack at Montauban.
18th Battalion Diary
At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.
Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:
As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:
I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:
“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.
Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.
George was originally declared Missing after the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
The Liverpool Daily Post on 23rd August 1916 posted him as Missing:
Missing.
King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Walker, 26696, G. (Liverpool);
It was nearly three months before his family learned of his fate. Agnes placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd September 1916 and Liverpool Daily Post on the 25th September:
“July 1, (previously reported missing, now officially reported killed in action), George Walker, K.L.R., dearly loved husband of Agnes Walker, 51 Boaler Street. R.I.P. (Friends kindly accept this -the only- intimation.)”
His son was three and a half years old when George died.
The Liverpool Daily Post on 05th October 1916 also reported George's death:
Previously Reported Missing, Now Reported Killed.
King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Walker, 26696, G.
George's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”
George’s effects went to his widow Agnes. She was awarded a pension of 15/- per week awarded on 19th February 1917.
Agnes' mother died on the 27th January 1936.
Liverpool Daily Post 31st January 1936
WILSON — January 27 at 51 Boaler-street, CATHERINE, widow of James Wilson R.I.P. Fortified with the rites of Holy Church.
Agnes, dob 17th May 1892 (this matches pension card), appears on the 1939 Register at 22 Mallow Road, Kensington with widowed sister Catherine Riley, dob 10th March 1882, a dressmaker.
Agnes drops off the Electoral Roll in 1968 at Mallow Road, she died, aged 74, in the June quarter of 1967.
We currently have no further information on George Walker, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
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A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All