William Bagot Walker

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Commander (retired) William Bagot Walker, (10 December, 1894 – ) served in the Royal Navy. He was the son of a R.N. officer, perhaps H. M. Walker.

Life & Career

The son of Commander H.[?] M. Walker, R.N.[1] entered the Royal Navy with the September, 1907 intake term at the Training Establishment. He passed out on 15 May, 1912 and was appointed to the battleship Agamemnon of the Second Battle Squadron, in which he served until April, 1915. Although Captain Arthur Hayes-Sadler had described Walker as "slow and dull" in January, 1913, Walker was mentioned in despatches for services under fire in steamboats at the Dardanelles, helping to rescue me from the mined battleship H.M.S. Irresistible and the French battleship Bouvet.[2]

He next served in the destroyer Scorpion before being appointed to the predreadnought Albion on 27 December 1915. He served in her until being appointed to the destroyer Mindful on 9 June, 1916 in which he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 September, 1916.[3]

Walker next served in the destroyer Lochinvar, to which he was appointed 6 February, 1917 and then in Mastiff, appointed 28 June, 1917. Walker would be cautioned to be more careful following a collision between Mastiff and Mansfield some time later in 1917. On 30 May 1918, he was appointed to Miranda.[4]

A Court of Enquiry following a 30 July 1918 collision between Miranda and the destroyer Phoebe informed Walker that he had "failed to act with either foresight or promptitude (since a doubtful signal had been made) and should have taken care to steer clear of the next ahead."[5]

In March 1921, Walker failed to pass in Gunnery at H.M.S. Excellent.

Walker was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 September, 1924.[6]

World War II

Walker was placed on the Retired List on account of age at the rank of Commander on 10 December, 1939.[7]

Walker commanded the training establishment H.M.S. Bristol from 12 February to 29 December, 1943. Late in the war, he served as Senior British Naval Officer, Archangel.[8]

He reverted to the Retired List on 11 July, 1946.[9]

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Charles M. J. Willis
Captain of H.M.S. Sardonyx
10 May, 1931[10] – 12 Aug, 1931
Succeeded by
Hugh N. Sheffield
Preceded by
George R. Deverell
Captain of H.M.S. Arrow
12 Aug, 1938[11] – 9 Feb, 1939[12]
Succeeded by
Eric V. St. J. Morgan
Preceded by
Edward S. F. Fegen
Captain of H.M.S. Dragon
9 Feb, 1939 – Jul, 1939[Inference]
Succeeded by
Ronald G. Bowes-Lyon
Preceded by
Charles B. Sanders
Captain of H.M.S. Adventure
1 Jan, 1944[13] – Jan, 1944[14]
Succeeded by
Charles B. Sanders
Preceded by
Guy O. Maund
Senior British Naval Officer, Archangel
28 Jan, 1944[15] – 23 Jan, 1945[16]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. I am unable to identify this person, the father.
  2. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  3. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  4. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  5. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  6. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  7. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  8. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  9. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  10. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 268.
  11. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. ?.
  12. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. ?.
  13. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  14. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  15. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.
  16. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/53. f. 53.