Joe WALKER

03 November 1916

LONG PRESTON – PRIVATE JOSEPH WALKER NOW REPORTED KILLED

Mr. and Mrs. D. Walker, of Hewitt House, who received intimation some time ago that their son, Private Joseph Walker, aged 24, of the West Riding Regiment, had been missing since 28th September, have now received the following letter:– “It is with my deepest sympathy I find it my duty to let you know the worst – that Pte. J. Walker was reported as killed in action on 25th September 1916. I write this in answer to the request on a postcard which came today. Many a letter has been here and sent back marked ‘killed in action’. I hope you do not think my words too blunt. I think it is best to come straight to the point first instead of writing a long letter and giving false hopes, only to put the awful truth at the end. Your son was transferred to my Regiment and received his new number of 31264 soon after joining my company. He went into action on the 25th September 1916, and was reported killed. I am very sorry you have been so long without news of him. There are many others the same, still writing to those who are not here. Someone is to blame for all this delay and I feel very sorry for those who have their hopes dashed by a delayed official notice. It is a crying shame, but I expect it will be so always whilst the war lasts. You can make enquiries from the officer in charge of Records of this Regiment, or the Regimental Record Office of his own Regiment, in writing, giving his WY number and his new number. I am sorry for you all at home and only wish our own Record Office would notify the parents more quickly than they do, as some letters from home are very hard to answer, especially those from mothers and wives pleading for any news of someone they love. It is very hard and I sympathise with you all and I hope something will help you to get over the sorrow, which may be yours on receiving this letter, after hoping in vain. Yours sincerely, C.Q.M.S., ‘C’ Company.”

On Sunday afternoon a memorial service was held in the Parish Church, when the Rev. A. Ingleby in his sermon said that when the call “Your King and Country need you” came, it was responded to not only throughout the length and breadth of England, but by the Dominions and Dependencies beyond the seas, in their hundreds and thousands. Many of their own near and dear ones had gone to join the great Army and they thought of them week-by-week and day-by-day. They had heard from the lips of those who had come from the trenches how great the war had been, and during the last month or two it had seemed to have been greater than ever. Many had made the great sacrifice. When the news came that one of their own had made that sacrifice, it was sad news and alas bound to bring sorrow; it left an empty place at home; a vacancy in the family circle and they could not help being sorry. Their Roll of Honour was a fine one, and would contain five names of those who had the letters R.I.P. (may he rest in peace) added to them, and the last of those five was Joseph Walker, who had given his life for his Country. Should they be sorry? Should they not rather be proud of him as one whose triumph was the greater? At the close the ‘Dead March’ was played on the organ and ‘The Last Post’ sounded by the buglers of the cadets who were present.

10 November 1916

LONG PRESTON

Mr. David Walker and Family desire us to thank everybody who has tried to cheer them on the death in action on October 25th of their son, who has given his life, like many others, for his country.