RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: rwalk74 on Tuesday 26 June 18 08:28 BST (UK)
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Good Morning.
I'm new to the site so apologies if this is in the wrong place!
I recently started researching my family history and have found it absolutely fascinating. I've also unearthed some information about a Great Uncle who died in WWII. Using the Commonwealth Graves site, I found him listed on there with the following information:
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Serjeant WALKER, ANTONY GRAHAME
Service Number 6396551
Died 29/05/1940
Aged 27
2nd Bn.
Royal Sussex Regiment
Husband of Margaret Walker, of Saltley, Birmingham.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2276760/walker,-antony-grahame/ (https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2276760/walker,-antony-grahame/)
I believe that my Great Aunt and Uncle had a son but this branch of the family tree is something of a dead end and I would like to try and look into it if possible, equally I'd be keen to try and find out anything else I can about my Great Uncle's service. I'm not sure if it would be allowed for me to apply for his Military Service Record as his great nephew, or even if it would tell me anything I don't already know.
If anyone has any thoughts or ideas, I'd be very grateful for your input!
(BTW I have subscriptions to Ancestry.com & findmypast.co.uk but can't turn anything up there unfortunately)
Thanks so much :)
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Possible marriage on Freebmd.org.uik
Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Sep 1939 (>99%)
Templeton Margaret C Walker Surrey S.E. 2a 2417 Scan available - click to view
Walker Anthony G B Templeton Surrey S.E. 2a 2417 Scan available - click to view
cancel that
I think that is Anthony Gerald Bartholomew WALKER
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Would he be
ANTONY G WALKER
bon 1913
Bristol registration
Mother's maiden name Green
Or possibly was he Anthony
Louisa Maud
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Would he be
ANTONY G WALKER
bon 1913
Bristol registration
Mother's maiden name Green
Or possibly was he Anthony
Louisa Maud
Good morning!
Thanks for your time, it's much appreciated.
Yes, he was born in 1913 in Bristol and Mother's maiden name definitely Green!
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No will. That's unusual isn't it for a WW2 death?
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There are 2 marriages between Walker and Green in Bristol registration district
1911 Reginald Walker to Freda Green
1900 John Alexander to Mary Jane Green
So it might be a bit more difficult to find other births as there were 2 marriages in the area Walker to Green
Louisa Maud
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rwalk74 - I presume you know his parent's names? Can you please tell us them.
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rwalk74 - I presume you know his parent's names? Can you please tell us them.
Sure - Reginald Walker (1889-1972) and Freda Elizabeth Walker (nee GREEN) (1890-1923)
My Aunt seems to think that my Great Uncle's wife/widow had a connection to Ireland and that she may have returned to Ireland after his death. It may be something of a guess though....
edited to say - apologies I may have not made this clear but it's the descendant lineage I am hoping to trace rather than the ascendant.
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Perhaps the marriage is in Ireland?
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There is a John G Walker born 1918 Bristol, MMN Green
Louisa Maud
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It's possible I suppose. If only I knew Great Aunt Margaret's maiden name I'm sure that would be easier to find out.
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There is a John G Walker born 1918 Bristol, MMN Green
Louisa Maud
I believe that is another Great Uncle and Brother of Antony Grahame.
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I cannot see any marriage for an Antony Walker that looks right between 1930 and 1940 on
Freebmd, Scotlands people or Irishgenealogy.ie :-(
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apparently no notice in the newspaper.
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I cannot see any marriage for an Antony Walker that looks right between 1930 and 1940 on
Freebmd, Scotlands people or Irishgenealogy.ie :-(
Thankyou very much for trying.
I will continue to look around on the basis of the following:
Spouse name Margaret (sometime of Saltley, Birmingham)
Married around 1935 - 1939 ?
Son born 1935 - 1940 ?
Irish connection ?
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Going back to the service records angle at the beginning.
As I think you have realised, soldiers' service records for WW2 are not on line (despite what at least one site would have you believe) and have to be applied (and paid) for. Check through https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records
If you are able to get the permission of his next of kin then you (or they) can apply and get his full record. It is still possible to obtain some details (explained on the site) if you cannot get the nok's permission but you can make you own decision about that.
Meanwhile, from the place and date of his death it is clear he was killed during the fighting covering the retreat to Dunkirk. Hugh Sebag Montefiore's book "Dunkirk Fight to the last man" is well worth a read. This link is to one of the notes that includes reference to 2 R Sussex in the third week of May:
http://www.hughsebagmontefiore.com/images/SCAN26dun75annivwebappsdramabbrevnotes%20copy.pdf
MaxD
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Going back to the service records angle at the beginning.
As I think you have realised, soldiers' service records for WW2 are not on line (despite what at least one site would have you believe) and have to be applied (and paid) for. Check through https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records
If you are able to get the permission of his next of kin then you (or they) can apply and get his full record. It is still possible to obtain some details (explained on the site) if you cannot get the nok's permission but you can make you own decision about that.
Meanwhile, from the place and date of his death it is clear he was killed during the fighting covering the retreat to Dunkirk. Hugh Sebag Montefiore's book "Dunkirk Fight to the last man" is well worth a read. This link is to one of the notes that includes reference to 2 R Sussex in the third week of May:
http://www.hughsebagmontefiore.com/images/SCAN26dun75annivwebappsdramabbrevnotes%20copy.pdf
MaxD
That's fantastic, thankyou and I will go onto Amazon and order the book today.
In your experience do you think that the war record would contain much useful information on top of what I already know - i.e his rank, regiment, service number, field of operation, date of death?
Edited to say - Just bought a copy on Amazon for £2.85!
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Am I understanding you want to only find his war records or perhaps from his birth 1913
My father in law's records didn't show much at all, my mother in law applied for any records after his death in 1984, she also had to prove who she was and the relationship
he was a prisoner of war, perhaps that is why there wasn't much information about him
Louisa Maud
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Am I understanding you want to only find his war records or perhaps from his birth 1913
My father in law's records didn't show much at all, my mother in law applied for any records after his death in 1984, she also had to prove who she was and the relationship
he was a prisoner of war, perhaps that is why there wasn't much information about him
Louisa Maud
To be honest, I would love to know more about his war record but I feel that it's likely I know all I ever will about that. In that case, I'd be very keen to trace his wife and son, where they are and what happened to them.
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Perhaps 1939 will reveal something for you
Louisa Maud
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Perhaps 1939 will reveal something for you
Louisa Maud
Fingers crossed. Thanks again for your help.
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His service number and the fact that he was a sergeant when he died strongly suggests that he was a pre-war regular soldier. 2 R Sussex were a regular battalion, stationed in Ireland when war broke out. They went to France in May 1940 so his active service was, sadly, very short. If his marriage was in service it would be on the record. His date of death being more than 25 years ago, you should be able to get his full detailed record from MOD. That said, you may be content with what you have?
MaxD
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I happened upon this blog and would be interested to make contact with rwalk74. My wife, Judy Williams (nee Walker) is in fact Tony Walkers half sister - and still alive! Sgt Tony Walker was killed at Hazebrucke in 1940 and we have actually visited his grave (in the same location). He was killed in Hazebrucke Station whilst defending the retreat to Dunkirk.
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rwalk74 hasn't been back to the site since 2018 but if you click on their profile title you can send a message and if they are using the same email it should get there. You have to make 3 posts before you can do this so reply to this one first and then again! Here's the how to do it page:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=327529.msg2079766#msg2079766
MaxD