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Remembrance
- The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War Major Wilfred Beckett WALKER Close window to return to main page |
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For a larger sized image, click on the thumbnail image. Close the window that opens to return to this page. (Photo is from that of 2nd Battalion Officers, 1914)
Major Wilfred Beckett WALKER
2nd Batallion the Yorkshire Regiment.
Killed 29 October 1914. Aged 38.
Commemorated on Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.
Born at Scarborough, 5th August, 1876, 2nd son of Captain Edwyn Walker, 15th
Hussars.
2nd Lieut., 20th February, 1897 ; Lieut, 15th October, 1898; Capt., 25th June,
1904 ; Major, 3rd December, 1913.
Served in the Boer War, 1900-02. Operations in the Orange River Colony, including
actions at the Vet and Zand Rivers. In the advance eastwards, actions at Diamond
Hill and Belfast. With the 2nd Battn. Mounted Infantry in operations in the
Transvaal, 30th November, 1900, to end of the war (mentioned in despatches.
Queen's medal and 4 clasps. King's medal and 2 clasps).
Proceeded to Zeebrugge with 2nd Battn. in October, 1914, and was killed at
Ypres, 29th October, 1914. Aged 38.
"He was a most capable and reliable officer, whose loss will be deeply
felt in the regiment. Under a quiet and somewhat cynical exterior, there was
a true and brave heart. No one did kinder things than he, and certainly no
one took more pains to conceal the fact that he had done them. He always had
a way out of a difficulty and worked for the good of the regiment " (G.H.G.).
His brother, Oswald Bethell Walker, 15th (The King's) Hussars, was killed
on 23 August 1914.
The following brief biography is provided by Bob Coulson in his biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
Wilfred Walker was born on August 5th 1876 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
A career soldier with the Yorkshire Regiment he was first gazetted in February
of 1897 and made Lieutenant in October of 1898. He saw action during the Boer
War, was promoted to Captain in 1904 and by December of 1913 had risen to
the rank of
Major.
Major Walker sailed with the 2nd Battalion from Southampton landing at Zeebrugge
on October 6th 1914. The battalion then proceeded to Bruges and from there
arrived in Ypres at noon on October 14th.
The 1st Battle of Ypres opened on October 19th and Major Walker and the 2nd
Battalion were holding the line close to Gheluveldt. Bitter fighting went
on for the next few days with Major Walker and his men holding the line as
the Germans came
forward in, “wave after wave”.
On October 29th Major Walker with “C” Company went up in support
of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, “The advance was terrible as the enemy
simply poured shrapnel into us”.
Major Wilfred Beckett Walker was killed in this advance on October 29th 1914
at the age of 38.
The Green Howards Gazettte wrote,
“He was a most capable and reliable officer whose loss will be deeply
felt in the regiment. Under a quiet and somewhat cynical exterior there was
a true brave heart”.
Major Walker has no known grave and his name is remembered today on the Yorkshire
panels on the Menin Gate at Ypres.
Wilfred Walker was the son of Captain Edwyn Walker of the 15th Hussars of
Mill Mount house at York.
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