Illustrated Chronicle
Hellfire Corner then
Newcastle Journal 25/05/1915
Newcastle Journal 25/05/1915
Hellfire Corner a few years ago
James Walker was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the 23rd August 1891.
He was educated at Gateshead and was employed at the Haggis Rope Works in Gateshead.
He married at the Roman Catholic Church in Dunston on the 26th December 1912, Mary of 189 Rose Street, Gateshead, daughter of John Quinn. They had one child.
He enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry on the 21st April 1914.
James was killed in action on the outskirts of Ypres on the 3rd of May. He was buried in the Chateau grounds west of Brielin, on the Poperinghe Road.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
The Newcastle Daily Journal, Tuesday 25/05/1915 reports:-
9th Durham Light Infantry KILLED
Mrs. Walker, of 189, Rose Street, Gateshead, has received news that her husband, Private J. Walker, 9th D.L.I., has been killed in action on May 3.
The deceased, who was 23, had been in the Territorials twelve months, and was employed at Haggie’s Wire Rope Works, Gateshead.
The Newcastle Daily Journal, Tuesday 25/05/1915.9th Durham Light Infantry
KILLED
Mrs. Walker, the wife of Private James Walker, 1780, 9th D.L.I., has received the following letter from Captain J. E. Raine:- Dear Mrs. Walker,- I very much regret to inform you that your husband, James Walker (1780), was killed in action on the outskirts of Ypres, on May 2. We buried him the next day in some grounds together with several of our brave men, and marked the grave, which will be looked after when this terrible war is finished. All the officers of B Company offer their deepest sympathy in your great sorrow. He was a good soldier and his quiet manner and excellent behaviour at all times was appreciated by us all.
On the 2nd of May the Battalion were marching through the Town of Ypres on their way to Brierlen Huts, as they marched through Ypres it was being shelled by the Germans, and the battalion suffered 7 killed and another 7 wounded, there was also a letter written by a Private H. Bell, to his sister, who described what happened.
We were there until Sunday, May 1st when it was hell on earth again. During the week they gave us 3 or 4 periods of shelling every day and we lost a few men and some wounded. But on the Sunday it was hot, from the first thing in the morning until dusk. We made a little building into a dressing station about 30 yards from our trenches. It was our stronghold during the shelling although they put 7 shells through it. The Germans fired 151 shells in half an hour during one spell. Just as we were preparing to leave during a lull, a shell whizzed over our heads. Another piece of shrapnel went through one of our men's topcoat, tunic and two shirts and never broke his skin. It gave the fellows a rare fright. Another piece caught the lad next to me in the stomach but we could not find any wound. He was very bad however and is now in hospital. Well we got away at last and after travelling [marching] 4 miles, we were passing a place called Hell's Corner when shrapnel burst right in amongst the fellows in my company, killing 6 or 7 outright. We pulled them to one side of the road and then followed the battalion. They were buried next day.
The seven men killed by shellfire were Privates, John Lightfoot, Ralph Masterman, James Williams, Randolph Vickers, James Walker, James Longstaff, and Thomas Todhunter.
The March was also described by Major English: That night march I will never forget, nor will any of us. We marched along the main road past Potijze and before coming to Ypres we turned to the right so as to pass through the northern border town. The road was littered with wagons and dead horses and full of shell holes. The Germans were shelling the road but fortunately, we had no casualties until we were passing through Ypres when a shell plumped into the middle of our column killing 8 men [the seven men named above} and wounding about 14 others. Presently we came to what appeared to be a field road and it was difficult to keep the battalion together on account of the obstacles which we had to cross, as it was vey dark.
Also a Corporal Contantine had a lucky escape in this incident, which he described to his brother in a letter dated 5th May:- the shell burst just about 20 yards in front of me and I got plenty of muck in my face but I am alright, if it had not been for some artillery passing at the time and making us stop a few minutes. I think I would have got the full force of the shell so I consider myself lucky...I heard rumours this morning that we are making a shift into the country away from the firing line.....
Source: "The Gateshead Gurkhas" by Harry Moses.
James Walker is remembered in Gateshead on G39.018
