James William Walters (1898–1981)

Air Mechanic

Royal Flying Corps 59451 Air mechanic 3rd Class
Royal Air Force 59451 Aircraftsman 2nd Class

Photographs courtesy Roy Harrison

James Walters

James Walters

Biography
Courtesy Roy Harrison
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.

James Walters and his family
James (back right) with brother Ernest, sister Marion Rose and parents Charles and Rosannah

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 Walters with members of the Royal Flying Corps
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

CENSUS INFORMATION

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

RG13 piece 3231 folio 64 page 13

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

RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN122

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