Charles William Walker (1896 - 1917)

Charles William Walker was born at Upper Arley in 1896. He was one of the six children of Edward Walker, a butcher, and his wife Catherine. In 1901 they lived at The Copes, Upper Arley. By 1911 they were living at Pennycroft, Alveley and the 14 year-old Charles was working as a butcher with his father.

Charles served with the Shropshire Yeomanry which became part of the 10th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry in March 1917. Charles was killed in action on 30th November, 1917, during the Third Battle of Gaza. He is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery. The Regimental History records:

At 4 p.m. on the 29th orders were received to send two companies forward to occupy the village of Et Tireh, where the 25th R.W.F. was to meet the 10th K.S.L.I., and prolong our advanced line to the left flank. Major Glazebrook, in command of numbers 2 and 4 companies, marched off after dark and occupied Et Tireh, without encountering much opposition. Owing to the nature of the country, and lack of maps, the 25th R.W.F. did not reach Et Tireh until two in the morning of the 30th. The village of Et Tireh lies in a hollow, and is commanded by one hill on the north, another on the north-east, and on the south by a ridge running south-west and already strongly occupied by the Turks. As soon as day dawned Major Glazebrook seized the hill (Sheikh Hassan) to the north-east, and the 25th R.W.F. occupied the hill to the north. At midday the Turks began a strong counter-attack and number I company 10th K.S.L.I., under Major Kynaston, advanced to assist Major Glazebrook's force. The counter-attack succeeded in driving our troops from the hills surrounding the village, and by 2 p.m. Et Tireh, commanded from north, north-east and south, and under heavy shell fire to which our guns made no reply, became untenable. Lt.-Colonel Heywood-Lonsdale accordingly sent orders to retire. With great skill Major Glazebrook succeeded in extricating his small force and bringing in all his wounded. The following officers were killed: Lieuts. J. M. P. Muddock, V. C. Hares, and C. E. Henningsen. The following were wounded : Major Kynaston, Lieuts. Hallows and Eason. Casualties amongst other ranks, 19 killed and 74 wounded. The 10th K.S.L.I. reformed on the original outpost line, and remained there until relieved by the Leinsters on the night of December 4th/5th. [Wood pp. 289-290]

Private Charles W Walker, 230290, KSLI, (formerly 1963 [Soldiers Died says 1880] Shropshire Yeomanry) was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.