William George Walker
Captain, 4th Gurkha Rifles. Indian Army
- Register No.
- 1261 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- 4th Gurkha Rifles. Indian Army all 4th Gurkha Rifles VCs →
- Date of action
- 22 April 1903 on this day → all of 1903 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Third Somaliland Expedition
- London Gazette
- 7th August 1903 on this day → all of 1903 →
- Born
- the 28th May, 1863 at Naini Tal, India
- Died
- 16th February 1936 at Seaford, Sussex
- Memorial / grave
- Woodvale Crematorium, Woodvale Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex
- Medal held by
- the National Army Museum, London
Digest of citation
On 22nd April 1903, during the return of Major Gough's column, after taking part in the action at Daratoleh, beause of the thick bush, the rearguard had been left considerably to the rear of the column. Whilst the wounded were being placed on camels, they had to fight and hold their ground. Captain Bruce, victim of a shot from 20 yards away, fell on to the path and was unable to move. Captain Walker and Captain Rolland, both of the Indian Army and with the Berbera Bohottle Flying Column, and a Somali soldier were alongside the captain when he fell. The column, unaware of their dilemma, were getting farther away. Captain Rolland ran back at least 500 yards to get help whilst Captain Walker and the men remained with the wounded Captain Bruce. Their time was spent keeping back the enemy who were placed all round them in the thick bush. Although they succeeded, the wounded captain was hit for a second time. The Sikh was also wounded. Had it not been for the actions of these men, Captain Bruce would almost certainly have fallen into enemy hands. Major Gough, returned to the assistance of the two captains and the wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
WALKER, William George. (reg No. 1261).
Captain. 4th Gurkha Rifles. Indian Army. * London Gazetted on 7th August 1903.
VC Medal's Custodian is the National Army Museum, London.
Born on the 28th May, 1863 at Naini Tal, India.
Died on 16th February 1936 at Seaford, Sussex.
Memorial at Woodvale Crematorium, Woodvale Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex.
Digest of Citation reads: On 22nd April 1903, during the return of Major Gough's column, after taking part in the action at Daratoleh, beause of the thick bush, the rearguard had been left considerably to the rear of the column. Whilst the wounded were being placed on camels, they had to fight and hold their ground. Captain Bruce, victim of a shot from 20 yards away, fell on to the path and was unable to move. Captain Walker and Captain Rolland, both of the Indian Army and with the Berbera Bohottle Flying Column, and a Somali soldier were alongside the captain when he fell. The column, unaware of their dilemma, were getting farther away. Captain Rolland ran back at least 500 yards to get help whilst Captain Walker and the men remained with the wounded Captain Bruce. Their time was spent keeping back the enemy who were placed all round them in the thick bush. Although they succeeded, the wounded captain was hit for a second time. The Sikh was also wounded. Had it not been for the actions of these men, Captain Bruce would almost certainly have fallen into enemy hands. Major Gough, returned to the assistance of the two captains and the wounded.
Additional information:. Major General Walker was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He was the son of Deputy Surgeon-General W. Walker IMS. After his education at Haileybury he obtained his MA at St John's, Oxford. He joined the Suffolk Regiment in August 1885 as a Lieutenant. On the 28th May 1887 he became a Lieutenant in the Indian Staff Corps later being promoted to Captain on 29th August 1896. In 1891 he saw service with the second Miranzai Expedition; the Waziristan Expedition in 1895; served in East Africa, in Somaliland seeing action at Daratoleh and Jidballi. He received medals and Clasps and was also mentioned in despatches. Also commended, for their help in the rescue of Captain Bruce, were Sergeant Nderamani; Corporal Surmoni; Sowar Umar Ismail, of the Somali Camel Corps, all of the South African Rifles and Lance Naik Maieya Singh of the 24th of Beluchistan Regiment .
Additional information
Major General Walker was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He was the son of Deputy Surgeon-General W. Walker IMS. After his education at Haileybury he obtained his MA at St John's, Oxford. He joined the Suffolk Regiment in August 1885 as a Lieutenant. On the 28th May 1887 he became a Lieutenant in the Indian Staff Corps later being promoted to Captain on 29th August 1896. In 1891 he saw service with the second Miranzai Expedition; the Waziristan Expedition in 1895; served in East Africa, in Somaliland seeing action at Daratoleh and Jidballi. He received medals and Clasps and was also mentioned in despatches. Also commended, for their help in the rescue of Captain Bruce, were Sergeant Nderamani; Corporal Surmoni; Sowar Umar Ismail, of the Somali Camel Corps, all of the South African Rifles and Lance Naik Maieya Singh of the 24th of Beluchistan Regiment .
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Alf recorded the memorial as: Woodvale Crematorium, Woodvale Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex
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