Harry Walker was born in 1881 at Oswestry. His father was John, his mother Emma. His father ran a grocery and provisions shop at 55 Church Street, Oswestry. Harry was the eldest child with a younger sister, Lucy, born in 1882 and a brother, George, who died in 1889 age 5. In 1886 their mother died (Oswestry Cemetery Grave A 160). Their father remarried the next year. His new wife, Catherine Morris, already had a daughter, Elizabeth, bore 2 more children, Harry’s step brothers, John and William. Catherine Morris died in 1895 and Harry’s father re married for a second time to new wife Sarah Evans. They would move with the grocery business to The Cross, Oswestry. At this time Harry was living in Rhosymedre and working as a baker. By 1911 his father had changed business and became a landlord, first at the Admiral Benbow, Ruyton XI Towns, and then at the Wynnstay Hotel at Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant. Harry would join him assisting in the business.

Harry had served in the South African War in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry and before the war had been in the Shropshire Yeomanry (regimental number 499) – rising to the rank of Sergeant in 1/1 Battalion. He was awarded the Imperial Yeomanry Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and, also, for his war service, the Territorial Forces Medal. The 1/1 battalion was mobilised in August 1914 and went out to Egypt in March 1916. In March 1917 the battalion was disbanded with men dispersed to other battalions – Harry went over to the Army Service Corps Camel Transport in May 1917. He remained in Egypt after the war, stationed at Kantara, an important supply base  on the Suez Canal about 50kms south of Port Said. Harry died of illness at 24 Stationary Hospital at Kantara and is buried in Kantara War Memorial Cemetery. He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry where he is recorded as in the Shropshire Yeomanry.

Acknowledgements.

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