Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Stoker C. R. Walker, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal for rescuing a drowning man in the Thames Estuary in November 1916

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (SS. 110850 C. R. Walker. Sto. 1Cl. H.M.S. Perseus); 1914-15 Star (SS. 110850, C. R. Walker, Sto. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (SS. 110850 C. R. Walker Sto. 1. R.N.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Christopher R. Walker. R.N. 20th Nov. 1916), last lacking integral top riband buckle, good very fine (5) £300-£400

R.H.S. Case no. 43,050:
‘At 11:30 a.m. on 20 November 1916, a man fell overboard from his vessel in the Estuary of the Thames, the sea being choppy and the vessel going 12 knots. Frederick J. Wood, Petty Officer, and C. R. Wlaker, Stoker, at once jumped after him and kept him afloat until they were picked up.’

Christopher Richard Walker was born in Paddington, London, on 4 January 1892 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 5 April 1911. Promoted Stoker 1st Class on 9 May 1912, he served throughout the Great War in H.M.S. Actaeon, and was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal in 1916 for rescuing a drowning man in the Thames Estuary. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 4 July 1919.