Sergeant David Walker

Sergeant David Brown Walker, Royal Flying Corps. He was killed in action with 11 Squadron R.F.C. on Operations over the Western Front during the Battle of the Somme on 16th September 1916, aged 19. He was the son of Thomas and Catherine Walker of 12 Tower Road, Tweedmouth and is buried in Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France. His Headstone is inscribed ” Beloved Son Of Thomas & Catherine A Walker Tweedmouth, Northumberland “. 11 Squadron was formed at Netheravon in April 1915 and sent to France on 25th July of that year. At the time of his death the Squadron was flying Offensive patrols with the Fe2 over the front in support of the ground attacks.  ( To allow the Gunner, who occupied the front seat, to fire to the rear he had to unloose his safety belt and stand up in his shallow cockpit. ( See Photograph ). Probably the most dangerous job in the R.F.C. Seriously unsafe especially as the pilot would likely be using evasive measures ). Before enlisting he had been an apprentice engineer with Messrs Shiell, millwrights of Tweedmouth.

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