Genealogy Chat

So, this is your man in 1841? Charlote Ernest abt 1827 Ireland Lezayre Isle of Man Catherine Walker abt 1807 Isle of Man, Isle of Man Lezayre Isle of Man >>>>>>George Walker abt 1836 Isle of Man, Isle of Man Lezayre Isle of Man Hannah Walker abt 1840 Isle of Man, Isle of Man Lezayre Isle of Man Jane Walker abt 1804 England Lezayre Isle of Man Quartor Walker abt 1806 England Lezayre Isle of Man In 1881 that George is down as a Farmer, living with wife, Ann on the IoM. Were you thinking it was his son who may have married Josephine Rolph? Merry

I'm just trying to get a feel for the sort of family they are (even before Gus made good in the Air Force!) There are loads of engineers called George Walker in 1901, so not much help there. The 1908 marriage doesn't seem to be in The Times :o(( Josephine was born in Canada in 1875ish. Her father was a shipowner and shipbroker. His first name was Augustus! LOL Do you think ''your'' George H Walker made a fortuitous marriage? Merry

We are getting warmer! I have just tried to google the results Christine gave and got them without any problem except it says Page Cannot be displayed! But George Henry Walker...oh, I think this is the one! I have a George Henry Walker, born on the IOM, to a Quarton Levitt Walker (yes, really, truly) and - wait for it - Janetta Houlding, who was born in Lancs, c 1803. He is an Engineer Geo Hy, that is). I have several pieces of information which have tantalising connections but I havent been able to prove any of them so far - is Janetta Houlding just a red herring, or is she the missing link, known to ALL the families I have found!?? And ..is she really Jane Holding, singlewoman and dirty girl, gone to IOM to reinvent herself ..did she take my 2 x GGF with her, and is THAT why there is no trace of him until the age of 35, when he takes as a second wife, a girl from the IOM? And is William Varlo Holden, born. bred and died in Lancs, her nephew is that why he marries mysteriously in the IOM in 1853? And best of all, William Varlo Holden finishes up in the same exclusive close of four houses, next door to my mystery man, John James Holden, spitting image of my late father? As you can tell, I'm getting a trifle excited here... Olde Crone

I'm doing the easy bits! Parents marriage: Marriages Jun 1908 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rolph Josephine Robertson Kensington 1a 209 Shute William George Kensington 1a 209 Till Annie Eliza Kensington 1a 209 Walker George Henry Kensington 1a 209 Merry

Never mind about the war record, if he played rugby for the Barbarians he's a hero!

There's also this (and another, less specific) from the same Google hits: part of the BBC People's WAr material: <<I often drove Gus Walker. Air Commodore Augustus Walker a famous and respected figure in the Air force. One armed, and injury sustained whilst trying to get to air crew in trouble. To me he was very correct but kind and had a sense of humour, at this time I was occasionally his driver. I got to know him quite well in 1945.>> This account is also on www.wartimememories.*co.uk/allied/waaf.html (remove *), with a photo of the lady. looks interesting explanation.. (another hit) <,By August [1942] No.61 Squadron was ready for normal night bombing operations and in the following month were joined by No.106 Squadron similarly equipped with Lancasters and commanded by Guy Gibson. Regular bombing operations were thereafter performed two or three times a week, weather permitting. On one particular night in October a fully loaded Lancaster crash landed on the airfield and started to burn. The Station Commander was Gus Walker, who dashed into the blaze to try and rescue the crew but a bomb exploded and severed his arm. He lived to become an Air Chief Marshal in the 1960s, his disability never being allowed to interfere with his ability to pilot an aircraft one handed.>> (and another) www.yorkshireairmuseum.*co.uk (remove *) The large Uniform Collection, only part of which is displayed, includes examples of practically every RAF, WAAF and WRAF uniform item ever issued, together with medals, rank and trade badges as well as the highly prized aircrew brevets. The Dress Uniform and other items belonging to Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus 'Gus' Walker, wartime station commander of RAF Pocklington, are on display. The collection also includes uniforms and badges of Commonwealth, French Air Force and other airmen who fought alongside the RAF during World War II. This link has quite a lot - and he may be in the photo http://website.lineone.net/~katie-jones/wood13.htm detailed biog: http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Walker_G.htm Christine

hope I'm not butting in... this is from the DNB, loads more on him. xx Jen Walker, Sir (George) Augustus (1912–1986), air force officer, was born in West Garforth, near Leeds, on 24 August 1912, the son of George Henry Walker, a consulting engineer, and his wife, Josephine Robertson, née Rolph. Educated at St Bees School, Cumberland, where he captained the rugby fifteen, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge (1931–4), he took a second in the natural science tripos and played rugby for Cambridge (but was not a blue). Having been commissioned into the Royal Air Force in September 1934, he completed his pilot training and joined 99 squadron, flying Heyford bombers. Selected for specialist armament training, he served at armament establishments and then at the Air Ministry joint directorate of research and development. Meanwhile he played rugby for Blackheath, Yorkshire, Eastern Counties, and the Barbarians, and was capped twice for England in 1939. He captained the RAF rugby fifteen from 1936 to 1939. Walker was promoted squadron leader in April 1939 and wing commander in November. He commanded 50 squadron flying Hampden bombers from Lindholme in Yorkshire, and made many raids on industrial targets in Germany, as well as, on 6 July 1941, the capital ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in Brest harbour. His courage and leadership impressed Lord Moran, who took him as one of his models for his book The Anatomy of Courage (1945). In July 1941 he moved 50 squadron to RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire, and was appointed to the DSO for his leadership, particularly on low-level bombing raids, and for the inspiring example he provided to his crews. In October 1941 he was awarded the DFC for his accurate identification and incendiary attack on the Buna synthetic rubber plant at Krefeld. After a year of successful bombing, mining, and other operations, including helping develop the Lindholme air sea rescue apparatus, he was promoted group captain and, in October 1941, was made station commander of RAF North Luffenham, where he flew both Hampden and Manchester bombers. In April 1942 Walker took command of the Lancaster base at RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire, and on 5 September 1942 he married (Dorothy) Brenda Willcox (b. c.1919), a WAAF plotter. She was the widow of a brother officer killed on bomber operations in September 1941, and the daughter of Hewitt Brewis of Westcliff-on-sea, Essex. They had one son and one daughter.

Christine I like LEEDs, I like it very very much - cousin Jim Walker lived with my GG Aunt in Headingley, Leeds! Now this is starting to come together a bit. Cannot at the moment see how he was a cousin because only one of Pamela's siblings ever married and I have them set in stone! OC

His father is G H Walker of Garforth Leeds (at the engagement in 1942) Merry

There's also this (and another, less specific) from the same Google hits: part of the BBC People's WAr material: <<I often drove Gus Walker. Air Commodore Augustus Walker a famous and respected figure in the Air force. One armed, and injury sustained whilst trying to get to air crew in trouble. To me he was very correct but kind and had a sense of humour, at this time I was occasionally his driver. I got to know him quite well in 1945.>> looks interesting Chrisitne

Found this by googling ''Gus Walker'' with ''raf'' <<Since I contacted you,and your efforts on my behalf re Ex 4 Group, 102 squadron Gus Walker etc I have had E Mails from all over the world.they have been mostly from Sons & daughters of ex 102 squadron veterans. One father remembers me as 102 Squadron Gunnery Leader. All remember Gus Walker. They were like me seeking info. One however who was born in Gus's parents house in Garforth in Leeds gave me the key to the whole jig saw puzzle. Larry>> ''Larry'' had also been asking about ''Gus Walker'' in the context of 50 Sqd - which fits in with that DFC announcement. Of course, it doesn't mean his parents lived on the edge of Leeds in 1912! Christine

There's a photo of him in The Times, if you want to see what he looks like! Merry

Oh Merry Hoist by my own petard, I think! (Gets out school dictionary, French-English...) I am slightly worried by this man. Nothing is ringing a single bell. Norfolk doesnt sound right for my family at all and I am SURE that if he was a Sir, someone in my family would have known this - my snobby Gran for instance! I was desperately hoping he would turn out to have come from the Isle of Man. Still, nil desperandum, I shall subject him to Crone Scrutiny and see if I can give him a son called Jim! (No, not me personally...) OC

Sorry, but this is funny! There's a website with some details about his career, but it's in French!! http://web.genealogie.free.fr/Les_militaires/2GM/Royaume-Uni/Air/Air_Chief_Marshal/W.htm LOL! Merry (Sorry it's not Norman French!)

Name: George Augustus (Sir) Walker Birth Date: 24 Aug 1912 Death Registration Month/Year: Dec 1986 Age at death (estimated): 74 Registration District: Kings Lynn Inferred County: Norfolk Volume: 10 Page: 1425 Can't do his birth one because there are lots of George A Walkers!! Update - sorry, I didn't see Christine's post! Merry

christine youw ill see the dates 1912 and 1986 tie up with my post for Air Chief marshall sir Augustus Walker. ann Glos

Oh, thankyou all for that wonderful information! I now have something to get my teeth into, including the info that he was really a George Augustus! (And desperately hoping the anecdote is mainly true, and he doesnt turn out to be an Able Seaman lol!) Olde Crone

and LG 11 March 1941 from the block of names before promotions Flt Lt to Sqd Ldr (can't tell quite what because I just get the current page when I call up the image) - so probably Sqd Ldr to Wg Cdr. George Augustus WALKER (36019) Which is borne out by: LG 19 Dec 1941 ROYAL AIR FORCE. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards: — ... Distinguished Flying Cross. ... Wing Commander George Augustus WALKER, D.S.O. (36019), No. 50 Squadron. Christine

of Senior UK Defence Personnel, 1900-1975 Name WALKER, Sir George Augustus (1912-1986), Air Chief Marshal Service biography University Commission, RAF 1934; Research and Development, Air Ministry 1938-1939; World Commander, Bomber Sqn stations and bases, War II 1939-1945; Senior Air Staff Officer No 4 Group 1945-1946; Deputy Director of Operational Training, Air Ministry 1946-1948; Senior Air Staff Officer, Rhodesian Air Training Group 1948-1950; Joint Services Staff College 1950; Imperial Defence College 1953; Commandant, RAF Flying College 1954-1956; Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group 1956-1959; Chief Information Officer, Air Ministry 1959-1961; Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, Flying Training Command 1961-1964; Inspector General, RAF 1964-1967; Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe 1967-1970; retired 1970; Director, Philips Electronics 1970-1982 Papers LIDDELL HART CENTRE FOR MILITARY ARCHIVES: No reply to approach letters in 1982 and 1990; the papers of Capt Sir Basil Henry Liddell Hart include correspondence with

On the other hand... from the LG 16 October 1934 ROYAL AIR FORCE. GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH. The undermentioned are granted perma- nent commissions as Pilot Officers with effect from 29th Sept. 1934 and with seniority of the dates stated:— 29th Mar. 1933. John Henry BECHER. Francis George FROW. John 01 ding SINKS. James Gait MACINTYRE. William James O'DOHERTY. ***George Augustus WALKER. Christine