Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sapper G. F. Walker, Royal Engineers - the sole member of the 9th Lancers on detachment with the Telegraph Department during the Tibet Mission 1903-04

Tibet 1903-04, no clasp (3735 Pte. Tel. Deptt.), correction to unit; 1914-15 Star (66216 Spr., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (66216 Spr., R.E.) good very fine (4) £460-560

George Walker was born in Chiswick, London. A Labourer by occupation, he attested for the 9th Lancers at Hounslow on 13 August 1894, aged 19 years - service number 3735. With the regiment he served in South Africa, August 1896-March 1898 and India, March 1898-November 1906. Walker qualified in Telegraphy on 23 September 1898 and extended his service to complete 12 years in April 1902. As a member of the 9th Lancers he was placed on detachment with the Telegraph Department during the Tibet Mission, 1903-04 - the only man from the regiment to be so employed. He took his discharge on 10 November 1906, having completed his period of service.

With the onset of the Great War Walker re-attested for the Royal Engineers in 1915. At the time he was a Telegraphist, living at 386 Blandford Road, Beckenham, Kent, aged 38 years. With the Royal Engineers he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 5 September 1915.

With copied m.i.c. and service papers. Also with a copy of ‘Military Telegraphists with the Tibet Mission 1903-04, by Alan Harfield, (O.M.R.S. Journal, Winter 1990) which lists Walker as the ‘9th Lancers’ member of the mission.