Auction Catalogue

19 & 20 July 2017

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 273

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19 July 2017

Hammer Price:
£280

Three: Second Lieutenant J. E. Walker, Royal Lancaster Regiment, late Manchester Regiment, killed in action at Bullecourt, 3 May 1917

1914 Star (2273 Pte J. E. Walker. 2/Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. F. Walker.) good very fine (3) £160-200

James Edward Walker, was born in Salford, Manchester, in 1893 and attested for the Manchester Regiment in March 1912. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914 and survived the devastating losses the 2nd Battalion had at Le Cateau on 25 August 1914 (14 Officers and 339 other ranks casualties). He was appointed Acting Corporal on 30 November 1914 and on 13 December 1914 he received a gun-shot wound to the arm which invalided him home. On 14 September 1915, he joined 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment in Gallipoli, was promoted Sergeant on 24 November 1915, and served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force until 8 July 1916. The 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment then proceeded to France and Walker was appointed Acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant on 24 March 1916, reverting to Sergeant on 8 April 1916. In early 1917, Walker proceeded to the G.H.Q. Cadet School and on 22 April 1917 was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Royal Lancaster Regiment. He was killed in action on 3 May 1917 at Bullecourt. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

Walker's two brothers also died in the war: Sergeant Albert Walker, 16th Manchester Regiment, who was awarded the Military Medal for Gheluvelt, died of wounds on 8 April 1918; and Private Harold Walker, 1st/7th Lancashire Fusiliers, attached 8th Battalion Royal Lancaster Regiment, was killed in action between 16 and 18 August 1916, aged 18. All three are commemorated on the Salford Corporation War Memorial.