William Walker (RAF officer)

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William Walker
Born(1913-08-24)24 August 1913
Hampstead, London, England
Died21 October 2012(2012-10-21) (aged 99)
Nationality United Kingdom
OccupationRAF Pilot
Known forOldest surviving RAF pilot of the Battle of Britain

Flight Lieutenant William Louis Buchanan Walker, AE (24 August 1913 – 21 October 2012) was, at the time of his death, the oldest surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain. His poem "Our Wall" about the Battle of Britain is inscribed on a special plinth aside the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall of the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent
.

Early life

Walker was born on 24 August 1913 in Hampstead, London. He was educated at Brighton College, a private school in Brighton, East Sussex.[1] Following schooling, he followed his father into the brewing business.[2] In 1931, he began as a pupil brewer at a brewery in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire to learn the trade. In 1933, he moved to Ind Coope brewery in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.[3]

Military service

Walker joined the

commissioned as a pilot officer on probation. He was given the service number 82662.[7]

He was immediately posted to

East Yorkshire and flew the Supermarine Spitfire.[4] It was with 616 Squadron that he would fight in the Battle of Britain. On 15 August, the squadron was scrambled to intercept a Luftwaffe attack on the North of England. During this engagement, he flew on the wing of his section leader. The result of the action was a success for his squadron, with six enemy bombers shot down. On 19 August, the squadron moved to London and was based at RAF Kenley.[1]

On the morning of 26 August 616 Squadron was scrambled to intercept 40 German bombers.

RAF Whaleback that brought him ashore at Ramsgate, Kent.[6] As the local hospital was too damaged to treat his wounds,[1] he was taken instead to the hospital at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire. He would keep the armour-piercing bullet as a souvenir of his experience.[2]

After six months recovering, he was posted to an

war substantive rank of flying officer.[10] He later transferred to No. 116 Squadron RAF, an anti-aircraft unit.[1] On 18 June 1942, he was promoted to war substantive flight lieutenant.[11] He was demobilised in September 1945.[1]

As a member of

1939–45 Star with an additional Battle of Britain clasp
.

On 24 August 1958, he was granted permission to retain the rank of flight lieutenant.[12]

Later life

After demobilisation, Walker returned to his pre-war career of brewing. He would go on to become the chairman of

Ind Coope's brewery in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.[2]

Upon retirement, Walker turned to poetry.[3] He was also a strong supporter of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. He would attend the annual remembrance held at the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent. His poem 'Our Wall' was inscribed on the monument alongside the names of The Few in July 2010 as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations.[1] He was featured in the 2011 documentary "Battle of Great Britain" hosted Ewan and Colin McGregor on the BBC.[citation needed]

Walker died on 21 October 2012, having suffered a stroke three days earlier.[2]

Personal life

In August 1941, Walker married Claudine Mawby, one of The Mawby Triplets. Together they had seven children, including Tim Walker a columnist for The Daily Telegraph. Two of the children pre-deceased their parents.[1] They had legally separated but were not divorced[13] before Claudine's death on 13 September 2012.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Flight Lieutenant William Walker". The Telegraph. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Walker, Peter (23 October 2012). "Battle of Britain veteran dies aged 99". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Our eldest veteran takes to the skies for the last time". Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "Battle of Britain hero William Walker dies aged 99". BBC News. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b "F/Lt. W. L. B. Walker". The South East Echo. 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Battle of Britain hero William Walker dies aged 99". Daily Record. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  7. ^ "No. 34927". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 August 1940. p. 5094.
  8. ^ "Veteran Spitfire pilot Flt Lt William Walker dies aged 99". Kent News. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  9. ^ Mullin, Cheryl (23 October 2012). "Oldest surviving Battle of Britain pilot William Walker dies aged 99". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  10. ^ "No. 35222". The London Gazette. 18 July 1941. p. 4129.
  11. ^ "No. 35658". The London Gazette. 4 August 1942. p. 3453.
  12. ^ "No. 41527". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1958. pp. 6422–6423.
  13. ^ Vitello, Paul (21 September 2012). "Claudine Mawby Walker Dies at 90; Hollywood 'Triplet'". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Claudine Walker". The Telegraph. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
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