Lance-Corporal 56255 Robert Walker

• Age: 24
• From: Chester Le Street
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 10th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Highland Cem Le Cateau
  Panel Ref: I.B.7

Robert Walker was born in the last quarter of 1893 in Chester Moor, Chester Le Street, the son of Ralph Walker and his wife Mary Ann (née Tate), both born in Shildon, Durham. They married in 1888 and had eight children. Robert had older brothers William, born in 1889, and Ralph 1890, and younger siblings Jane, born in 1896, John 1899, Thomas 1901, Norman 1904, and Florence 1908. 

In 1901 the family is living at Elm Street, Chester-le-Street. His father,Ralph L., is 34 years of age and a stoneman below ground (excavating hard strata other than coal), mother Mary Ann is 39 years of age. Their five children are listed as; William 12 b.Brandon, Ralph 10 b.Brandon, Robert 8 b.Chester Moor, Jane 4 b.Chester Moor, John 1 b.Chester Moor. 

By 1911 they have moved to 13 Mary Street, Ludworth, Durham. His father, 44, like Ralph, 20, is a coal miner/stoneman, below ground. His mother is 45 (married 22 years 8 children) , Robert is 17, also down the mines, working as a putter (pushing the carriages of coal to the shaft). Jane is 14, John 11 at school, Thomas 10 at school, Norman 6 at school, and Florence is 3. 

Robert enlisted at Deaf Hill Colliery, as Private 15632, joining the 7th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. The War Gratuity, based on rank and length of service, suggests that Robert enlisted in about January 1915.  The 7th Bn landed at Boulogne in July 1915. 

At some point Robert was transferred to the 14th Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment as Private 56255 It is not known when he was transferred but the 14th landed at Boulogne in September 1915, and moved to Salonika in November 1915.  The battalion fought at the Battles of Horshoe Hill and Machukovo in 1916 and at Doiran in 1917.  In June 1918 they left the Mediterranean Theatre, embarking at Itea in Greece, disembarking at Taranto, Italy, and then to the Western Front.  In August 1918 the battalion was absorbed by the 18th Bn K.L.R., becoming the 18th (Lancashire Hussars) King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.

The Hundred Days Offensive, the Allied push which would eventually end the war, begins on 8th August, 1918.  

On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenberg Line at Bony.   

From the battalion War Diary:

10th October 1918 - At 0230 hours the battalion moved forward to a position near RUEMONT, and attacked towards LE CATEAU at 0510.  Very little opposition was met with at the start but later considerable M.G. fire was encountered. …  Our right company was not in touch with the flank, and the troops on the right appeared to be held up by M.G. fire from the railway embankment … A short length of trench on the high ground immediately E. of LE CATEAU was also reported to be held by the enemy.  At 0848 the Centre Coy reached K.33.b and pushed a platoon into the N. W. outskirts of LE CATEAU.  The right company was temporarily held up by MG and sniper fire, but appeared to be almost in the town itself.  Hostile M.G. fire was reported from the direction of Q.10. … Houses in K.28.a were reported to be strongly held by the Bosche, and a patrol was sent out to investigate and deal with them. … During the advance on LE CATEAU considerable difficulty was experienced, owing to a “whizz bang” battery being able to fire over open sights at the troops as they moved up the rise and along a slight valley. 

Total Casualties 7th - 13th October:

Killed – 2 Officers, 18 O.R.
Wounded – 6 Officers, 111 O.R.
Died of Wounds – 1 O.R.

Wounded and Missing – 1 Officer, 20 O.R. 

Robert was one of those killed on 10th October 1918.  He was 24 or 25 years old. He was buried near to where he fell, and his grave marked with a cross.  After the war when graves were concentrated his body was removed and reburied in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, Nord, where he now rests.

After the Battle of Le Cateau (26 August 1914), the town remained in German hands until the middle of October 1918. The original cemetery (Plot III) was made by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division after the fighting of 17 October; the name of Highland Cemetery is suggestive at once of the comparatively high ground on which it stands and of the 32 graves of the 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion, Black Watch, found in this plot. The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves of October and November 1918 were brought in from isolated positions on all sides of Le Cateau. Highland Cemetery now contains 624 First World War burials. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Robert’s death was the second loss the family suffered. His brother Ralph enlisted in May 1915 as Private 19353, 6th Bn East Yorks, served in the Mediterranean theatre, then on the Western Front. Ralph was killed in action in the Ypres Salient on 09th July 1917, aged 27.  He now rests in Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Flanders, where his gravestone inscription reads,

“DEATH DIVIDES BUT MEMORY CLINGS”.

His parents received a pension of 18/6d a week for two sons.  They were eligible to receive Robert’s effects of £27-1-2d and a War Gratuity of £22-10s, but there is no record of these payments being made, although this may be an oversight, as Ralph’s effects and War Gratuity were paid out. 

Robert is commemorated in the following memorials - 

All Saints Church, Wheatley Hill

Wheatley Cross, Wheatley Hill Cemetery

Parents appear on 1939 register at 36 Greenwood Cottages, Easington. Ralph born 23rd September 1866, Mary Ann born 04th May 1863.

His father died in the June quarter of 1943, aged 76.

His mother died in the June quarter of 1944, aged 81.

We currently have no further information on Robert Walker, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.