Genealogy Chat

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

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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

Oh, more anecdotal evidence! Pamela Holden's brother Joseph, married twice, once to a flirty girl who produced two daughters. He then divorced her in a blaze of scandal and later remarried - a widow,... who already had a daughter called Josephine...who went to Canada.... George Henry Holden, son of Janetta and Quarton Levitt, was 'well placed' I think - his parents lived in a substantial house on the IOM in 1881, and, as an Engineer he probably got to meet other professional families, hence the good marriage! But I have to check all this of course (calm down, Crone)

Oh Merry You have burst my bubble...its the other son who is an engineer not Farmer George!!! George and Ann dont appear to have any children if I remember correctly from the 1881 and as they are in their 40s, doesnt seem likely. Sooo...back to the Leeds connection...I did SO want him to be the IOM Walkers, sob sob. But ah! I see on the 1841, Janetta is just plain old Jane...off to look for her birth with renewed vigour! Thankyou everyone so much for your help (and big mwaah to Jen Red and Purple for that Leeds bit). I shall sit down now and do this properly, like you are supposed to do! Olde Crone

The Times, 9th March 1956 WALKER On March 5th 1956 at ''Claremont'' Garforth, suddenly and peacefully, George Henry Walker, aged 74, beloved husband of the late Josephine and dearly beloved father of Jim and Gus. Service and cremation at Cottingley hall, Leeds, today, (Friday) at 1.30pm. So at least we now know how old her was b abt 1881/82. Merry

Possible: 1901: Harold F Boratt abt 1864 Victoria, Australia Boarder Headingley cum Burley Yorkshire Geo Henry Walker abt 1882 Manchester, Lancashire, England Son Headingley cum Burley Yorkshire John Geo Walker abt 1846 Leeds, Yorkshire, England Head Headingley cum Burley Yorkshire Son is a mechanical enginner. Father is living on own means. Merry

Oh brilliant, Merry! So now I know that Gus and Jim were BROTHERS, not father and son. And the 1901 looks right - in Headingly! Can you see the address without spending any money? The Holdens lived in Brudenell Grove in 1898. This is so maddening because I cannot see how the two families are related - wonder if they were family friends and called 'cousin' as a sort of courtesy title? We also have a mystery John appearing at Pamela's home, as head of the house, in the rates book - wonder if its John Walker and they got muddled up at the Rates Office?!? Now Merry dear, do help yourself liberally to champagne won't you, its rather a good vintage... OC

Thanks for the drinky! Slurrrp!! 1901 address: 121 Victoria Road, Headingley. Nextdoor-but-one (115) there is another John Walker, also born in Leeds, aged 45, a boot manufacturer. His middle initial is W. Thought I'd better tell you in case you got caught out with the electoral roll or something! Merry

I've just noticed that in 1901 John Geo Walker, b 1846 is NOT a widower, so where is his flippin' wife???? Under the mechanically engineered patio? Maybe she is the Holden? LOL Merry