In Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 25/734 Private John Walker serving with the 25th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 26/10/1916.
He was the son of Michael and Ellen Walker, of Coolbawn, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny and the husband of Sarah Ann Walker, of 2, Stable Street, Cornsay Colliery, Co. Durham.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Walker was born 1882 in Ireland, he was the only known son of Michael and Ellen Walker of Coolbawn, Castlecorner, County Kilkenny. He emigrated to England and at the age of 19 was living as a boarder with Irish immigrants Francis and Kate Quinn and family at 18, Stable Street, Cornsay Colliery, County Durham. The Quinns had emigrated to England after the birth of their third child, daughter Sarah Ann born April 20th 1879 and by 1881 had established themselves at Esh near Lanchester, County Durham.
John and Sarah Ann were married in 1905 in the district of Lanchester. In 1911 they were living at 2, Stables Street, Cornsay Colliery, John supported his family employed as a coal miner/hewer. His wife had given birth to 4 children by 1911 of whom 3 had survived, Ellen (Ellie), born March 5th 1906, Catherine (Kittie) on April 25th 1907, Bridget born in 1908 died in 1909 and Mary Walker in 1910. They went on to have a further 3 children, all girls, Sarah (Sally), May 6th 1911 born after the completion of the 1911 census and Agnes, January 27th 1913. Sadly, they lost a child for the second time when Mary (3) died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1913 before their youngest daughter Mary Francis was born, August 8th 1915, just prior to her father’s departure for the Western Front.
Her father John had enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne November 9th 1914, one of the first to do so. He was assigned as Private 734 to the newly formed Pals’ Battalion, 25th (2nd Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.
After initial training at home the battalion joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915 at Ripon in Yorkshire before moving to Salisbury Plain for final training in late August.
They proceeded to France in January 1916 where the 34th Division concentrated at La Crosse, near St. Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they moved to the Somme and saw action during the Battles of the Somme including the capture of Scots and Sausage Redoubts part of the opening battle near La Boisselle, the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th, Pozieres Ridge, July23rd-September 3rd. As part of the 103rd Brigade with the Divisional Pioneers, they were also at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd 1916. The 25th Battalion did not take part in any further major battles, but they stayed on the Somme engaged in day to day trench warfare.
Private 25/734 John Walker, Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on October 26th 1916 and interred at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Nord, France, grave IV. A. 20. He was 34 years of age.
His widow Sarah Ann received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 2, Stable Street, Cornsay Colliery, County Durham. She commissioned at a cost of 13 shillings 8 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Eternal Rest Give Unto Him O Lord May He Rest In Peace Amen”.
Sarah Ann did not remarry. In 1939 she and her daughter, Ellen, listed as an incapacitated invalid, and Catherine, an auxiliary nurse, High Teams, listed under the surname of Walker then altered to Brown, were living at Elderwood Gardens, Gateshead, County Durham.
Sarah Ann Walker nee Quinn (72) died in 1952 reistered at Gateshead, historically in County Durham, her daughter Ellen Walker (77) died in 1983 registered in the district of Gateshead, Tyne & Wear after 1974.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Acknowledgments: Nuala Walsh, grand-daughter to John Walker, who submitted the photos and has added the following notes about John and Sarah’s family:
The children were Ellen, Catherine, Mary ( who died) Sarah, Agnes and Mary Frances ( known as Moira). There was another child who died so they had 5 surviving children. All 7 were girls.
Ellen (known as Ellie) never worked due to having diabetes, Catherine( known as Kitty) was an auxiliary nurse, Sarah (Sally) was also an auxiliary nurse, Agnes was a nun missionary with the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph and worked in Cameroon. Kenya and Peru. Mary Frances (Moira) was a nurse. Her birthday was August 15th 1915.
John Walker is remembered at Cornsay Colliery on C116.01 and at Quebec on Q2.06
