402024 Sergeant
404th Highland Field Company, Royal Engineers, 51st (Highland) Division
Age: 26
Date of Death: 15.8.17 DoW
Buried: Duhallow ADS Cemetery I.B.2
Family history: Son of George and Jane Greig Walker, of 17 Graham’s Road Falkirk. John had three brothers and two sisters. Prior to enlisting in September 1914, he was employed as a joiner in Glasgow. His younger brother George was serving with the Scots Guards and was recovering from being gassed. He was to be killed on 27 September 1918 age 25 and is buried in Sanders Keep Military Cemetery, Graincourt-Les-Havrincourt. Grave I.D.9
Â
The action leading to his death
The 404th Field Company was working on road repairs on the Boundary Road from Hammonds Corner forward to Admirals Road. The War Diary records the casualties as: 1 Other Rank killed and 1 Other Rank died of wounds. That was John.
His Company commander wrote to his parents: ‘His loss is felt very much by the officers and men of the company. I considered him one of the best n.c.o.’s we had, and he always set a fine example to his men under him. He died of wounds caused by shell splinters a few hours after he was hit, and is buried in a British military cemetery on the banks of the Yser Canal, E.N.E. of Poperinghe.’
Â
Headstone
Medals Awarded:
1915 Star The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
