Thomas Walker

Private

Kings Own Yourkshire Light Infantry 24557 1st Battalion, D Coy

Photo Lea Mills postcard

Thomas Walker in WW1

Notes
Thomas Walker worked in the Office Section of Spinning at Lea Mills under Mr Mc Vann, the recently appointed Spinning Manager. He joined the forces on 12th May 1916, aged 19/20. He was posted to the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and served with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Salonika.
The Firm sent him parcels of hosiery and groceries in December 1916, which took a while to reach him for he was serving in Macedonia. In each of his letters to J.B.Marsden-Smedley there is a reference to Mr Mc Vann, his immediate line manager, who clearly wrote to Thomas Walker regularly. Walker replied on 2nd February to say that he had received the hosiery in good condition and reported himself to be in good health, although the weather was very bad. He served in the trenches on alternate nights but the front was quiet with little contact with the Bulgar enemy. He found that disease to be more of a problem than the enemy. He was also surprised to find that cotton was grown on the plains of Macedonia. He enquired of the government contracts being fulfilled at the Mill and was pleased to learn that the Mill was busy.
When he received hosiery in January 1918, he was in hospital. (The transcribed letter dates this as 6th January 1917, but the Firm’s record shows it to be 6th January 1918). Thomas Walker was in 50th General Hospital recovering from an attack of typhoid and pleurisy. He had succumbed to the very diseases that he had mentioned in earlier correspondence. At the time of writing he was still in bed but recovering. He had been in touch with Mr Mc Vann again who had reported on the busy times at the Mill and Walker reflected that everyone was having to make sacrifices in the time of war. The first snows had just fallen but on the day of writing the weather was bright and warm.
If the Marsden-Smedley family lost contact with any of their men they would go to some trouble to rectify this. When they lost details for Thomas Walker, they wrote to his mother for information. It was in response to such an enquiry that his mother gave the news that he was with at the 83rd Brigade Headquarters, Salonika Forces in August 1917.
He was in hospital again, this time Imtalfa Hospital in Malta, when he received groceries sent in September 1918. The parcel had reached him via Salonika. On 1st September he had been invalided from Salonika suffering from malaria and dysentery. The passage from Salonika to Malta had taken four days. He was recovering and expected to be repatriated to England, although that was not going to be achieved swiftly because ‘hundreds of men are waiting here, and ‘boats seem very few and far between.’ 
He was looking forward to returning to the Mill and resuming his association with Mr McVann. This letter was dated 24th October 1918; such was the delay in the transmission of the parcel.
His letters are more detailed and comprehensive than most of those received. He gives a clear indication of the conditions that prevailed in Salonika throughout the last years of the war. He is also one of the best informed of the serving soldiers about the work at Lea Mills during the war.
He was discharged from the Army on 20th September 1919, aged 22.

Medal Roll Index
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
Enlisted 15/11/15
Discharged 20/09/19 under Para 392 (xvi)
Silver War Badge B330172 returned by o/c of Records, resubmitted on 0/4947/2 10/01/20

Silver War Badge Record
24557 WALKER T. KOYLI Depot B330172, enlisted 15/11/15; discharged 20/09/19 Para 392 (xvi) Sickness aged 22, served overseas

JB Marsden-Smedley letters

Macedonia
Feb 2/1916
Dear Mr. Marsden-Smedley
Many thanks for the parcel of hosiery which I have just received in good condition.  It will certainly prove most useful especially as we are having very bad weather here just now.  I am glad to say I am keeping in good health and sincerely hope that both you and Mrs. Marsden-Smedley are well also.
We are on a very quiet part of the front here and although we are in the first line trenches every other night we see very [little] of the Bulgars. Disease is a far worse enemy out here than the Bulgar. We have had very bad weather during the last week, snow, rain & frost which makes things, to say the least of it, unpleasant.
How are things looking in England? We see by the papers an early peace is being very much discussed & I do not see how it is possible for it to last very much longer.
How are things at the Mills. I expect you are still busy on government work? By the way I was rather surprised when first I got here to find cotton growing as I was not aware it grew in Europa at all. There seems to be a fair number of plantations down on the plains.
I think the inhabitants of this part of the country have not altered much since the time of St. Paul by the appearance of them and their houses which are very poor specimens of architecture. I think this is about all I can tell you this time and I want to catch the mail but I will write again shortly.
Will you please remember me to Mr. McVann.
Yours sincerely
T Walker

Salonika
Jan 6th 1917
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for the parcel of hosiery which I received this morning. It has been nearly ten weeks on the way but the parcel has arrived quite undamaged and will be most useful during the cold weather.
I have been rather unfortunate lately and am at present in the 50th General Hospital just recovering from an attack of typhoid and pleurisy, but am glad to say I am much better now and hope to be out of bed very shortly.
Mr McVann tells me what a busy time you are having just now. The war seems to demand sacrifices from us all – some in one way and some in another – I sincerely hope this year will we see the end of it.
We have had our first fall of snow this week but the weather has turned quite bright and warm again now.
Thanking you again for your kindness which I much appreciate I remain
Yours sincerely
T. Walker

3 Meadow Villas, Starkholmes Road, Matlock
11th Augt. 1917
Gentlemen,
With reference to the inquiry you were good enough to make for my son's address as per your note of 3rd inst., I have since heard from him and would be glad if you would correct his address as follows:-
Pvt Thos. Walker
No. 24557, 83rd Brigade Headquarters, Salonika Forces, M.E.F.
I was very pleased to have your note and thank you for your interest in my son.
Yours truly
(Mrs.) A.H. Walker
Messrs. John Smedley Ltd.
Lea Mills

No. 24557
1st K.O.Y.L.I., Imtalfa Hospital, Malta
Oct 24/1918
Dear Sir,
I am just writing a few lines to thank you for the parcel which I received yesterday.  It has had rather a long journey having been to Salonica and then back here.  I was invalided from Salonica on Sept 1st with malaria and dysentery and arrived here on Sept 4th but am glad to say I am now much better and awaiting passage to England but I expect to be here some weeks yet as boats seem very few and far between and hundreds of men are waiting here.  However, when I do get home I will take the first opportunity of seeing you and thanking you personally.
Mr. McVann tells me how busy you are at Lea and I can assure you I am looking forward to the time when we shall be able to return there, which I feel convinced will be very soon now as the news all round continues splendid.  I will not trespass further on your time but will conclude, thanking you again.
Yours sincerely
Tom Walker

Census: From existing records Thomas Walker was born about 1897. The following is a possibility for him based on geographical likelihood but needs to be treated with caution until further evidence obtained.


CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Elm Cottage, Matlock Bath

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
James Walker Head 29 Plumber Matlock
Annie Walker wife 35   Cromford
Arthur Walker brother 20 Surveyors Clerk Matlock Bath
Ernest Walker son 8   Matlock
Thomas Walker son 3 School Matlock

RG13 piece 3267 folio 79 page 23

1911: Matlock Bath

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
James Walker Head 39 Plumber Matlock
Annie Walker wife 45   Cromford
Thomas Walker son 13 School Matlock
Dora Walker daughter 5 School Matlock Bath

RG14PN21212 RG78PN1262 RD439 SD2 ED14 SN138