Percy Travis Walker (1891–1957)

Lance Corporal

East Yorkshire Regiment 29429  
Labour Corps 37925  

Photo: Derbyshire Courier 16 June 1914

photo of Perct Travis Walker

Biography
Percy was born at South Normanton in 1891 and was raised by John and Hannah Travis, his uncle and aunt. He enlisted in December 1915 and served overseas. He was reported missing in 1918. The Derbyshire Courier dated 13 June 1910 reported Mr Percy Travis Walker as being the new postmaster in Crich. In 1914 he married Edith May Brown of Crich. Percy was discharged, aged twenty-seven, in October 1919 with a Silver War Badge.

photo courtesy John Gent

Percy Travos Walker with wife and child

Percy and his wife, Edith May (née Brown), pictured with their daughter, Dorothy, in 1917

Edith's brother, Frederick Brown (1886-1944) is also listed on the Roll.
A sister of Edith, Florence Mary Brown, married John William Heathcote (1883–1955) who is also on the Roll.

Percy and Edith's daughter Dorothy Travis Walker served in the WAAF during WW2 and was accidently killed in a motor accident during 1945. She is interred in St Mary's churchyard, Crich.

Newspaper reports

Derbyshire Courier, 18 April 1914
Crich, WALKER – BROWN
The Parish Church , Crich, was the scene of a very pretty wedding on Easter Monday, when Percy Travis Walker, third son of Mr and Mrs Benjamin Walker, of South Normanton, led to the altar Edith May Brown, third daughter of Mr George Brown, of the Market Place, Crich. The service was witnessed by a large congregation both bride and bridegroom being popular in the district.

Derbyshire Courier, 16 June 1914
CRICH'S NEW POSTMASTER
Mr Percy Travis Walker, of the Market Place, Crich, received official confirmation on Monday of his appointment to the position of local postmaster. Mr Walker is a native of South Normanton, but took up residence at Crich about a year and a half ago. He was educated at Mansfield Grammar School and afterwards at Nottingham High School. At the present time, Mr Walker is employed on the clerical staff of the Clay Cross Co. Ltd, at their Ambergate offices. Mrs Walker, who will be the assistant, has had a considerable amount of experience in postal work in Crich district.
Mr Walker, who secured the appointment from amongst a large number of applicants, takes up his official duties on July 1st. He is to reside at the Postoffice house, the present postmistress, Miss Higton, going to take up residence at Matlock.

Derbyshire Courier, 18 May 1918
MISSING
Pte. Percy T. Walker, Crich

Derbyshire Courier 11 January 1919
Mrs PT Walker, of the Market Place, Crich, has had news from a husband, Private PT Walker, East Yorks, that states he has got to go into hospital, but hopes to get nearer home. Before joining he has arrived in Scotland after being a prisoner of war since last March. He was a postmaster at Crich.

PoW Record
Walker Persy (sic) 29429 East Yorks. 23.3.18 Mons, 1 Unterschenkel, St du Nord; 27.3.91 South Normanton Miss P Walker Marke, Holbrook .
At Ferlesf camp. This could be an abbreviation of Friedrichsfield Camp

Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
He was also awarded the Silver War Badge.

Silver War Badge
29429 Private Percy Travis Walker; East Yorks; B332541; enlisted 8/12/15; discharged 24/10/19; aged 27, served overseas.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Blackwell

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Travis Head 62 Living on own means Leabrook
Hannah Travis wife 55   South Normanton
Percy Walker nephew 10   South Normanton

RG13 piece 3136 folio 24 page 40

1911: Gin Stable, Ironville, Notts

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Hannah Travis Head (wdw) 65   South Normanton
Percy Travis Walker nephew 20 Mining student South Normanton

RG14PN20306 RG78PN1217 RD428 SD3 ED7 SN124

1939 Register: the Common, Blackwell
Percy T Walker b.27 March 1891; Ministry of Labour clerk
Edith M Riley (Walker) b.6 May 1891
Dorothy T Walker b.12 May 1916; ARP first aid post, Blackwell
one closed record