A SUPERB, RARE & TRAGIC
"10th TANK CORPS" OFFICER CASUALTY. 1914-1915 Trio & Plaque.
To:
2/Lt G.P. WALKER. TANK CORPS.
(Previously served as 17322. Pte G.P. WALKER 20th HUSSARS
& as 104237 Pte G.P. WALKER. MACHINE GUN CORPS)

KILLED-IN-ACTION 9th AUGUST 1918.

George Pybus Walker was tragically killed by German machine gun fire after leaving his tank to go "Souvenir Hunting" during the Battle of Amiens.

(*An important and contemporary seven page hand written diary entry by his Sergeant & second in command, describes & refers).

On the previous day of 8th August, the tank corp records state that the 10th were operating with 7th Royal Sussex Regt, who's infantry would typically be walking behind and in the cover of the tank. The record also states that tank J7 had "lost it's direction in the mist", but that it had fired 15 rounds of 6lb ammunition & 180 rounds of SAA.

....the diary takes up the story....." All around every square was pot marked, with shell holes or Dead Germans. We had pulled up alongside a German Machine Gun Post, all were dead, killed by the infantry, bayoneted , it was a very gruesome sight. We was all very keen to get souvenirs or anything we could scrounge. Our officer in the tank was a lovely young fellow, called Lt Walker from York. He had been sent out from England a few weeks previously, He was just one of us, and during our resting times would come & sit amongst us & insisting on doing his share of cleaning the guns. Also every week he used to give us a 10/- note, and told us where to go to the nearest Canadian, or U.S.A. Canteens, where we could buy some Luxuries.

We always had to camp in Woods or shelter of some kind every day on account of the Observation Balloons, which were stretched as far as the eyes could see on either side of the lines.

Lt Walker got out of the tank & he also went some distance from the Tank, as he wanted some souvenirs. Suddenly there was a burst of machine gun fire & he fell riddled with bullets. He had left his revolver in the Tank,( which I brought home to England on my Leave).

While I was out of the Tank, I noticed a very black German Plane come over us, and hovered over us very low. We expected some bombs, but nothing happened, and he slowly flew away. We never recovered Lt Walkers body, because it was impossible to do any good. The only conclusion we could come to was:- There must have been some Germans deep down in a Dug Out & had not been Mopped Up by our Infantry.

I had to go to a Court of Enquiry, as it was left to me to make up our Log Book. They seemed more concerned about how their Planning had worked out, than any loss of human life"

[BIOGRAPHY]
George Pybus Walker was born at Acomb, York , on 30th September 1892. 1911 census records he was the son of Samuel Walker (Gardener, 47) & Elizabeth Walker (52) of 18 Falconer Street, Holgate, York. He had two sisters, Florence Theresa (Dressmaker, 22) Mildred Mary (10) and a brother, Harry (Farm Labourer, 17) George himself, then 18 had been employed as a Railway Clerk at York. Upon enlistment he was a single man of 21 years & 11 months when he attested at Richmond Yorkshire on 1st September 1914. He initially signed on as 17322 Pte. G.P. WALKER 20th HUSSARS and was later to serve as 104237 Pte G.P. WALKER M.G.C





George entered France on 21st September 1915 with 20th HUSSARS and via the M.G.C. was commissioned as 2/Lt into the Tank Corps on 3rd November 1917.


[HISTORY]
2/Lt Walker served in the tanks as part of "A" Company, No.3 Section under Captain Henderson and was commander of a Mk5 Tank serial J7. 9334 as part of crew 13.
(We are looking for a picture of 2/Lt Walker & of Tank J7, Do you have one ?)
There were about 450 tanks in action at the Battle of Amiens with 20 machines of 10th Tank Corps being present at "MALLARD WOOD" on 8th / 9th August 1918. ...........George Pybus Walker is remembered with eternal honour on the VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL (Stone 75a /Panel 11)







The group comes with full colour research papers which include medal rolls, 1911 census, MIC, Army Finance Records, etc,10 sheets (plus the seven page extract from the J7 tank sergeant's war diary)

A totally superb & very rare Tank Commander's group with it's entire history & papers. £2650
Enquires & part-exchanges welcome, 01342-870926.....don't miss this superb & rare Tanks item !!