Eric Walker (RAF officer)

Eric Walker
Nickname(s)	"Jonnie"
Born	(1896-07-10)10 July 1896 Mirfield, Yorkshire, England
Died	11 April 1983(1983-04-11) (aged 86) Christchurch, Dorset
Buried	Bournemouth, Dorset
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army Royal Air Force
Years of service	1916–1919
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	West Riding Regiment No. 18 Squadron RAF
Battles / wars	World War I  • Western Front
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant Eric Walker DFC (10 July 1896 – 11 April 1983) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]

Military service

Walker was commissioned from cadet to second lieutenant on 19 December 1916,[2] and served in the 4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) (Territorial Force), until seconded to the Royal Air Force[3] as an observer officer on 27 May 1918.[4]

He then served as an observer/gunner in No. 18 Squadron flying in an Airco DH.4. He gained his first victories on 31 May 1918 with pilot Second Lieutenant J. Waugh, driving down out of control two Fokker Dr.I triplanes south of Armentières. On 28 July, with pilot Lieutenant John Gillanders, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII and another two-seater aircraft over Esquerchin. Finally, on 31 July, he and Gillanders accounted for two Fokker D.VII fighters (one destroyed and one driven down) over Brebières.[1]

Walker was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 1 November 1918. His citation read:

Second Lieutenant Eric Walker.

"This officer has taken part in thirty-five bombing raids, ten photographic flights and twenty-one reconnaissances, many at low altitudes. He is a most efficient and keen observer who has rendered as such most valuable service. Moreover, he is a bold and determined fighter when attacked, and has accounted for four enemy machines."[5]

He relinquished his commission on ceasing to be employed on 13 March 1919.[6]

He was the brother of seafarer Dora Walker and artist Hilda Annetta Walker, and the uncle of the artist Marie Walker Last.[7][8]

References

1. "Eric Walker". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
2. "No. 29885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1916. pp. 12741–12742.
3. "No. 31062". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 December 1918. p. 14680.
4. "No. 30752". The London Gazette. 18 June 1918. p. 7211.
5. "No. 30989". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 November 1918. p. 12975.
6. "No. 31255". The London Gazette. 28 March 1919. p. 4038.
7. "Hilda Annetta Walker - Artist". braemoor.co.uk. Hebden township historical data. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
8. "The Walkers of Mirfield". Yorkshire Evening Post. British Newspaper Archive. 22 October 1941. p. 6 col.4. Retrieved 9 December 2020.