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William Beresford Walker (1894-)


Chester-le-Street man who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross


Born in Chester-le-street, William Beresford Walker was the first man in the district to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Born on 2 December 1894, William was the only son of Thomas and Margaretta Walker. He had one sister, Christina, who was five years younger than him. Thomas worked as the superintendent of a cemetery in Chester-le-street and William lived throughout his child hood at the Lodge attached to the Cemetery. At the time of the 1911 census, at the age of 16, William was working as a coal exporter clerk.

William enlisted in June 1915 into the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade. Just over two years later, in August 1917, he was gazetted as a 2nd lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. In December 1917, William was transferred to serve in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). An interest in photography led him to serve as an observer, an important role in the RFC. It was his job to gain vital information on enemy troop movements and trenches. Initially, William spent time in Reading, presumably at the training school for aeronautic observers. From there he went to train at Hythe, the school of Aerial Gunnery. Following this training, William became part of the 99th Squadron, joining the British Expeditionary Force in France in April 1918.

On 31 July 1918 William was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), the London Gazette citation for which reads:

“This officer has taken part in 21 bombing raids, and has rendered excellent and valuable services in photography and general observation. He has shown himself a brave and skilful officer in action, notably on one occasion when his formation was attacked by twelve hostile scouts which approached within short range; he engaged one at 150 yards, and drove it down in flames. In another engagement he attacked one enemy aeroplane at close range and drove it down. He then engaged several others with good effect.”

The DFC was an award presented to airmen who had shown “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy”. The award was established in June 1918, shortly after the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF), and around 1,100 were awarded during the First World War.

A celebration of this award was held in Chester-le-Street in November 1918 where a clock was presented to William. An account of this can be read in the attached newspaper article.

About a month after being awarded the DFC, William was taken ill. His casualty record card reports him as being admitted to hospital on 24 August 1918 suffering from flying sickness. This is sometimes known as ‘war strain’ but is also thought to involve the changes of air pressure and temperature that airmen were exposed to on a daily basis. William was treated at various hospitals overseas before being invalided to England on 29 September 1918. In November he was transferred to the RAF depot and then transferred to the unemployed list in March 1919.

At the time of the 1939 Register, William is listed as married but his wife is not recorded as living with him. He is working as a clerk for the local authority. His sister, Christina, had remained unmarried working, like William, as a clerk.

Civil Parish: Chester le Street

Birth date: 02-Dec-1894

Armed force/civilian: Air Force

Residence: Cemetery Lodge, Ropery Lane, Chester-le-street (1901 and 1911 Censuses, Airmen Records)
English Street, Cumberland (1939 Register)

Education: Chester-le-Street Secondary School

Employment: Coal Exporter Clerk (1911 Census)
Clerk (1939 Register)

Family: Parents: Thomas Walker, Margaretta Walker
Siblings: Christina Eleanor Walker

Military service:

Welsh Border Mounted Brigade
3rd Highland Light Infantry
Royal Flying Corps, 99th Squadron
Lieutenant

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross

Gender: Male

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham