Air Mechanic
Royal Flying Corps | 59451 | Air mechanic 3rd Class |
Royal Air Force | 59451 | Aircraftsman 2nd Class |
Photographs courtesy Roy Harrison
Biography
James William Walters – known as Jim – was born at Crich on 2 December 1898. He was the oldest of the three children of Charles Barber Walters and Rose Hannah Bowmer, with a brother and sister. Prior to the war Jim was employed as a coach builder in the Crich area.
During the war, Jim enlisted for service with the Royal Flying Corps on 14 February 1917, prior to transferring to the Royal Air Force on its formation on 1 April 1918. Jim served with the rank of Air Mechanic 3rd Class, though this rank was reclassified to the RAF rank of Aircraftman 2nd Class on 1 January 1919.
James back row, third left
Jim was transferred to the RAF Reserve in November 1919 and returned to Crich. He married Elsie May Searles in 1924 and they had two children, a boy and a girl. The family then relocated to York. During the Second World War, Jim was employed by the aircraft manufacturers Handley Page, who had established a repair depot in 1941 at York Aerodrome at Clifton Moor. The depot overhauled, repaired and test flew Halifax bombers for the duration of the war. He was later employed as a coach builder at the railway carriage works in York.
James William Walters passed away at York on 24 February 1981, aged eighty-two years.
Royal Air Force Service Record
59491 James William Walters; Entered RFC 14/02/17 aged 18 years 2 months; Coach builder; Father – Charles Walters of the Tors, Crich; Height 5ft 10¾; Transfered to RAF Reserve 13/11/19
1901: Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
William | Walters | Head | 63 | Framework Knitter | Swanwick |
Barbara | Walters | wife | 70 | Tailoress | Heage |
Charles B | Walters | son | 30 | Woodworking machinist | Crich |
Rose Hannah | Walters | daughter in law | 28 | Crich | |
James W | Walters | grandson | 2 | Crich | |
Ernest | Walters | grandson | 6 mo | Crich |
1911: Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
William | Walters | Head | 73 | Gardener | Swanwick |
Barbara | Walters | wife | 81 | Heage | |
Charles Barber | Walters | son | 40 | Woodworking machinist | Crich |
Rosannah | Walters | son's wife | 39 | Crich | |
James William | Walters | grandson | 12 | Crich | |
Ernest | Walters | grandson | 10 | Crich | |
Marion Rose | Walters | g.daughter | 2 | Crich |
1918 Crich voters
James William Walters, Benetts Lane; absent on military service.
1939 Register: Carrington Avenue, York
James W Walters b.2 December 1898;
railway coach builder, heavy work, part-time ARP York LNER first aid
Elsie M Walters b.5 June 1900
two closed records