Albert, Charlie, Joe and Percy Walker – 4 Elm Street

James Walker married Sarah Elizabeth Toon in 1883. He worked at one of the breweries and they spent most of their married life at 8 Hope’s Terrace. They had 1 child before their marriage and 15 more afterwards. 11 of the children survived infancy but James died in 1906 aged 43 years . All of the family were born in Stamford.

In 1911 Mrs Walker, a charwoman, was living with all 11 children in 4 rooms at 4 Elm Street. The three youngest, Joe 13 years , Percy 12 years & Beatrice 10 years were still at school; the others were all in employment as follows:

• James 25 years – a general labourer
• Florrie 24 years – a domestic general servant
• Ethel 23 years & Rose 21 years – laundry hands at the Steam Laundry
• William 20 years , Edward 17 years , Albert 16 years – all labourers at a brickyard
• Charlie 14 years – an errand boy at a chemist’s

The Walkers: Albert, Charlie, Joe, Percy – 4 Elm Street

James Walker married Sarah Elizabeth Toon in 1883. He worked at one of the breweries and they spent most of their married life at 8 Hope’s Terrace. They had 1 child before their marriage and 15 more afterwards. Eleven of the children survived infancy but James died in 1906 aged 43 years. All of the family were born in Stamford.
In 1911 Mrs Walker, a charwoman, was living with all 11 children in 4 rooms at 4 Elm Street. The three youngest, Joe 13 years, Percy 12 years & Beatrice 10 years were still at school; the others were all in employment as follows:

James 25 years – a general labourer

Florrie 24 years – a domestic general servant

Ethel 23 years & Rose 21 years – laundry hands at the Steam Laundry

William 20 years, Edward 17 years, Albert 16 years – all labourers at a brickyard

Charlie 14 years – an errand boy at a chemist’s

William

William enlisted in the Northants Regiment at the beginning of the war and was killed in action only a few weeks later on the 24th October 1914. He is commemorated on the Stamford Town and St George’s Memorials and the Ypres Menin Gate.

Albert born 14th April 1895

Albert enlisted as a Private in the Northumberland Fusiliers and had been promoted to Lance Corporal when he was discharged under the King’s Regulation 392 (xvi) as no longer physically fit to serve. He received the Silver War Badge as well as the British and Victory medals. He married Mary Ann Toon in 1918 and had 5 children born in the Stamford area. (His son, John, married Kathleen, daughter of Bernard Musson.)
Charlie born 1897

In March 1915 the Stamford Mercury reported that Charlie was recruited into the 15th ‘Bantam’ Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. This battalion was one of those formed for men who were physically fit but under the height required by the army. After training they went to France in Feb 1916 and fought in the Battle of the Somme. He may have been promoted to Sergeant.

Joe born 29th Dec 1898

J Walker is listed in ‘Stamford in the Great War’ as a Pioneer in the Royal Engineers. This could be Joe or his eldest brother James. Pioneers were infantry battalions engaged in laboring work sometimes made up of men graded unfit for service. It is likely that he was the Joseph Walker who died in Stamford in 1944 aged 45 years.

Percy born early 1900

There were two Percy Walkers born in Stamford at this time and it is more likely that the other Percy Walker is the one who joined the Northumberland Fusiliers. This Percy may have been too young to be called up. It was probably was him who married Ethel Totolos in Stamford in 1933.

The girls of the family all married in Stamford between 1914 and 1925