Arthur Henry Walker

Arthur Henry Walker was the son of Samuel and Annie Walker (née Raynor). The CWGC record gives his father's first name as Alfred. Samuel Walker was born in Beeston, Nottingham, and Annie Raynor in Nottingham. They were married at Nottingham St Saviour on 13 August 1871 and had at least four children, all of whom were baptised at Nottingham St Mary: Annie b. 27 October 1873 bap. 20 May 1877; Charles b. 9 February 1876 bap. 20 May 1877; Arthur Henry b. 5 October 1878 bap. 4 December 1878 and Florence May (or Mary) b. 18 April 1884 bap. 29 June 1884. There may have been another son, Alfred b. 1871 (O/N/D Nottingham, Raynor) who died in 1876 (A/M/J Nottingham). At the time the three eldest children were baptised (1877 and 1878) the family was living on New Street, Nottingham, but by 1891 Samuel. a lace maker, and Annie had moved with their three children Annie (7), Charles (5) and Arthur Henry (2) to 22 Gough Street, Nottingham. Their last child, Florence, was born in April 1884. Her father Samuel died the following year, 1885, at the age of 31. In 1891 Samuel's widow was living at 123 Kirke White Street, Meadows, with her four children, Annie who worked in a lace warehousem, Charles an apprentice in the earthenware trade, Arthur an errand boy and Florence (7) who was still at school. By 1901 Annie had moved to 3 Summit Place, Walker Street, Sneinton, where she was living with her daughter Florence. Annie was a lace clipper and Florence a French polisher. Florence married Arthur Ernest Foulds in 1905 and in 1911 they were living with her mother, who was still working in the lace trade, at 3 Summit Place. Ernest was a window cleaner for a window cleaning company. He and Florence had had four children of whom only two, Nelly and William, survived: Florence May b. 1905 (d. 1905), Hilda Annie b. 1906 (d. 1907), Nelly b. 1907 and William Ernest b. 1910. A fifth child, Mabel, was born in 1914 but died the same year. Annie Walker never remarried and probably died in Nottingham in 1932 aged 77. Arthur Henry married May Poxon (b. 1 May 1876) in 1907 (J/F/M Nottingham). They had two children: Charles Arthur b. 20 January 1908 and Phyllis May b. 1910. In 1911 the Walkers were living at 7 Oakland Street, Hyson Green. Arthur was a lamplighter with Nottingham City Council lighting department and May was an overlocker at a lace warehouse. At the time of Arthur's death they were living at 324 Denman Street, Radford. However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled May was probably living at 27 Pulborough Close, Nottingham, and working as a daily cleaner. She died at Nottingham, aged 65, in 1943. Charles Arthur married Ethel May Daft (b. 19 October 1913) in 1935. In 1939 Charles, a foreman diesel and petrol fitter, and Ethel were living at 66 Bovill Street, Nottingham, with their children Grace b. 6 March 1938 and Richard A. b. 24 May 1939. The records of two other members of the household remain closed. Charles died on 17 November 1946. (See 'Extra information') He and his wife were then living at Dalkeith Terrace, Gregory Boulevard. Charles' widow remarried (Brook). Phyllis M. may have married Harold Horry in 1935 (J/F/M Nottingham).

He joined the Royal Navy in 1896 and was discharged by purchase in 1904 when he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. In 1911 he was a lamp-lighter for Nottingham Corporation lighting department. He was mobilised in August 1914 and discharged in 1919.

Arthur Henry Walker joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 February 1896 and signed a 12 year continuous service engagement on 5 October the same year, his 18th birthday. He served in the following ships and shore establishments between 1896 and 1901: HMS Northampton, 8 February 1896- 10 August 1896 (Boy 2nd Class, Boy 1st Class 11 May 1896); Pembroke I, 11 August 1896-22 March 1897 (Ordinary Seaman 5 October 1996); HMS Eclipse, 23 March 1897-15 September 1900 (Able Seaman 21 July 1898) and Pembroke I, 16 September 1900-8 May 1901. He then served continuously until his last ship, HMS Talbot (9 May 1904-18 July 1904) when on his return to the UK he was attached to Pembroke, 19 July 1904-20 July 1904, prior to his discharge by purchase (£4) on the 20th. Arthur transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve (Chatham B.2019) on 21 July 1904 and as a result the £4 he had paid for his discharge was refunded. Arthur re-enrolled in the RFR on 17 July 1909 for 5 years from 21 July 1909 and was mobilised on 2 August 1914. He served as an Able Seaman until his discharge on 19 January 1919; it is likely that he served continuously in the UK. Arthur died at the City Sanatorium on 24 December 1920. He was buried in Nottingham Southern Cemetery, Wilford Hill (grave ref. K.18.82). Arthur had either continued to serve in the Royal Fleet Reserve or his death was attributable to his military service as his death is recorded with CWGC.

Headstone inscription: ‘In loving memory of Arthur Henry, the beloved husband of May Walker who died Dec. 24th 1920, aged 42 years. A noble sacrifice. Also of the above May Walker, who died June 9th 1943 aged 65 years. Reunited after long suffering.’ Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 29 December 1920: ‘Walker. On December 24th, at City Sanatorium, Arthur Henry, husband of May Walker, 324 Denman-street.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 31 December 1920: ‘Walker. On December 24th at City Sanatorium, Arthur, the beloved brother of Charles Walker. Late (-) years with Royal Navy, also City Lighting Dept. Deeply mourned.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Walker Arthur Henry of 324 Denman-street Nottingham corporation lamplighter died 24 December 1920 Administration (with Will) Nottingham 28 January to May Walker widow. Effects 314 9s.3d. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 11 June 1943: ‘Wealker,. On June 9th, at City Hospital, May, widow of the late Arthur Henry Walker RN, mother of Arthur, Phyllis, Harold [son-in-law] and Ethel [daughter-in-law], loved sister of Mr and Mrs W Poxon and family, dear grandma of Marion, Michael, Jean and Arthur, after much suffering. RIP Funeral Wilford Hill, Saturday, 11am.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 20 November 1946: ‘Nottingham man’s Death After Kennels Incident. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned yesterday by the City Coroner at an inquest on Charles Arthur Walker, 38, of Dalkeith-terrace, Gregory boulevard, a metal welder, who died in the General Hospital on Sunday. The widow stated that some years ago he met with an accident while riding in a motor cycle race and part of a wheel pierced his head. Since then his health had been good, but sometimes he complained of headaches. On November 10th her husband went to his greyhound kennels. On returning he told her that one of the dogs was so pleased to see him that it jumped up, catching his forehead at the place of the old injury. Her husband became very ill on Sunday. The doctor was called an ordered him to hospital. Dr EA Horne, of the General Hospital, said death was due to status epilepticus, following an injury on the site of the previous injury to his head.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Extract: 'Status epilepticus is when a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or when seizures occur close together and the person doesn't recover between seizures.' (www.epilepsy.org.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 20 November 1946. ‘Walker. November 17th at the General Hospital, suddenly. Charles Arthur (Lincoln Electric Welding Works (-) Ltd) beloved husband of Ethel May, devoted father of Arthur, Grace, (-), Glennis, Doris and David. Funeral Thursday, November 21st, 3.30pm Wilford Hilll.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)