Luke Seymour Walton, one of 11 children, was the youngest of 6 sons and 5 daughters. His parents Thomas Walton of Wolsingham and Frances Mason native of South Moor, both in County Durham, were born in 1853 and married November 5th 1874 at Wolsingham. They initially settled at Tow Law, County Durham where their daughters Catherine known as Kate, Jane and sons William and Robert were born in 1875,1876, August 27th 1877 and 1881 respectively. Two years later they had moved to Whitfield’s Buildings, Longbenton, Northumberland, where Thomas was employed as a stone mason. It was here that his wife gave birth to the remainder of their children, George Burnhope February 28th 1883, Thomas Arthur March 14th 1886, Christopher P. 1889, Hannah 1890, Frances H. 1891, Caroline Elizabeth know as Lizzie 1892 and Luke Seymour Walton April 28th 1894. Between 1895 and 1901 they transferred to 24, Byron Terrace, Elswick a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Thomas was now employed as a bricklayer as were Thomas Arthur and Robert. In search of work they returned to County Durham settling in the district of Lanchester where Thomas Walton died in 1908 aged only 55 years.

Frances remarried in 1910 to Robert Faulding native of Lanchester, born 1853. Robert, a colliery labourer, had married Sarah Ann Carrick of West Butsfield, County Durham with whom he had 3 daughters, Esther born 1891, Isabella 1892 and Annie 1898, he had been a widower since 1901. In 1911 they were living at Cornsay, address unspecified, Christopher Walton was employed at the brick works as a labourer, George Burnhope and Luke Seymour Walton underground at the colliery as drivers, coal miner/hewer, 28-year-old David Birtley was their lodger.

Luke Seymour was employed in 1913 by Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Company, Waterhouses. Aged 18 years 11 months he enlisted at Hamsteels, March 19th 1913, assigned as Private 2036 Durham Light Infantry and posted to Scarborough, July 27th 1913. Once mobilised he was transferred to the 8th Battalion August 5th 1914 at Durham before moving to the coastal defences at Roker and Whitburn. Over the next 9 months the recruits were also trained for service overseas. Prior to his departure he was married in the district of Durham during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/March) 1915 to Elizabeth Jane Moor, a local girl born about 1898.

Private Walton departed with his regiment from Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station April 19th 1915 bound for Folkestone and sailed April 20th 1915 landing at Boulogne, France, that same day. Within days without any nursery training the regiment was sent to Belgium into the trenches on the Ypres salient during the 2nd Battle of Ypres.

He was reported missing and then killed in action 6 days later and his next of kin were informed. This proved to be inaccurate, he had been captured at Ypres, this was confirmed by the official Prisoner of War list published by the Germans, May 15th 1915. He was transported to the city of Munster, western Germany where there were 4 camps. Muster I was outside the city in open farming land, Munster III was a former Army barracks, Munster IV was for Russian P.O.W.’s only, Private Walton was sent to Munster II to what had been prior to the commencement of hostilities, the local racecourse.

Before 1915 conditions as a P.O.W. were very harsh and resulted in many deaths from pulmonary illness, Typhus and cholera was also a threat not only to the prisoners but the surrounding civilian population. On German territory there were about 652,000 servicemen prisoners of all nationalities. Many who died were listed by the Germans as having, “died of wounds,” when in reality in many instances it was due to lack of nutrition, as food was reserved for their front line troops, poor hygiene and general lack of care.

Private Walton was receiving news from home during his captivity as a request from him was received by the Ministry of Pensions, January 1918, it reads as follows and is self-explanatory, “Sir, I am directed by the Special Grants Committee to inform you that no further allowance will be made to Mrs Walton the wife of No. 2036 Private Luke S. Walton 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at the soldiers request on account of her having given birth to an illegitimate child. I am to request the above information may be commissioned, through his Commanding Officer, to the Soldier, who, unless he is under compulsory stoppages under Section 145 of the Army Act by reason of there being an Order of Court against him, should no longer be required to make an allotment to his wife. I am Sir, Your obedient Servant. The Officer in charge of Records, York.”

Private 2036 Luke Seymour Walton survived his captivity as a P.O.W. returning to England where he was discharged at Ripon, March 15th 1919, as Private 300160 Durham Light Infantry, free to return to his home at 2, Lord Street, Trimdon Colliery, County Durham.

All the Walton brothers were of eligible age to serve during WW1, however not all details are available as 70% of records were destroyed during the blitz of WW2. William Waltonserved as Driver 043202 his brother Thomas Arthur as Driver T4/043466 Army Service Corps. Private George Burnhope Walton died in 1916 on the Somme. Details as regards Robert and Christopher P. Walton unknown.

After the failure of his first marriage Luke remarried in the district of Easington in 1922 to Mary Simkin, their daughter Eileen Mary was born in Weardale, in 1923. Luke Seymour Walton died aged 74 years in the district of Durham S.E. in 1968, details of his wife unknown.

His mother Frances Faulding-Walton nee Mason died during his captivity, aged 64 years, June 9th 1917 at 22, Cornsay Cottages, Cornsay Colliery, of dyspepsia and myocarditis, her husband Robert was present at the time of her death.

Robert Faulding died in the district of Lanchester in 1921 aged 67 years.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.