Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Henry Walker was born 1887 in Bishop Middleham, County Durham, one of 13 children, 6 boys and 7 girls born to Benjamin Walker 1849 Sedgefield and Jane Ann Coltman 1863 Denton County Durham. His father was employed by the Cooperative Stores as a tailor, at the age of 24 Joseph Henry was working as a barer at the limestone quarry and lived with his family at 1 High Street, Middleton, Ferryhill.
Joseph Henry Walker enlisted at Ferryhill, November 21 1914 and gave his address as Durham County Asylum, Winterton, Ferryhill where he was employed as an asylum attendant. He was assigned as Gunner 54880 to the Royal Garrison Artillery, January 1st 1916, June 3rd 1915 he was transferred with the rank of Private 28170 to the Cheshire Regiment. Joseph Henry was mobilised and sent to Gibraltar, August 18th 1915 where he was deployed until leaving for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, December 30th 1916 disembarking in France the following day, joining the 11th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, January 1st 1917 and transferred to the 16th Battalion, January 21st 1917.
The circumstances of his death are somewhat confusing. A sheet from his service history reports that he was taken February 4th 1917 by the 105th Field Ambulance to hospital, where he was admitted February 6th suffering from pneumonia and states he died of pneumonia that same day. The same sheet states he died of wounds but his record makes no mention of him being wounded. The fact remains that Private 28170 Joseph Henry Walker Cheshire Regiment died February 6th 1917 and is interred at St. Helaire Cemetery, Frevert, Pas de Calais, France. He was 30 years old and single.
His mother, Jane Ann, now living at Green Lane, Acomb, York, paid for an additional inscription to be added to his headstone, it reads, "A Day’s March Nearer Home". She also received a pension and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Joseph Henry Walker is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
