Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mrs Annie Walker. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion were in the Doon Mill sector. On the return of the Commanding Officer to Battalion HQ’s, he at once saw Company Commanders who had been waiting for him, where he gave verbal orders and instructions with reference to Brigade Operation Order number 369 the -?- and dispositions to be employed. Coys were in posts and D Coy was still in the front line with the Sherwood Foresters. Coys were ordered to move via Brancourt Railway Station along Sunken Road south east from station and to take up their positions as near to barrage line C.29 central 1.5.b. 60.00 as possible. -?- was known as regards whether the enemy was still holding 1.4.b. and d. and C.29.c. and I.5.a. Coys were ordered to advance under the barrage as follows A right and supported by B, C on left supported by D, Battalion HQ’s to advance to C.28.d. 00.30. A, C and B Coys all succeeded in starting off behind the barrage as soon as it lifted from the barrage commence line, ie: Zero plus 10. It was impossible for D Coy to get up in time, but this Coy reached their line C objective 20 minutes after the objective had been taken. Northern Battalion boundary. Grid line running from C.28 through C.30 southern boundary. Grid line running through I.5. central and I.6. central. Zero 05.30hrs. The -?- was particularly -?- but in spite of this direction was well maintained. A and B Coys advancing on and passing through Jonnecourt Farm, while C Coy advanced direct to high ground north east of Jonnecourt Farm in C.30.d. objective being I.c.b. 40.00 to C.30.b. 60.00. This objective was gained and consolidated without a casualty. 1 -?- Tank Gun was captured. Two explosions occurred in Jonnecourt Farm shortly after Battalion had reached its objective. 1 platoon from each of the advanced Coys then exploited the ground to the front. C Coy succeeded in advancing their line -?- D.25.c. 60.40. A Coy succeeded in reaching then exploiting lines at I.c., the Railway at J.2.c. 70.80. Battalion HQ’s at C.30.c. 40.20. At about 14.00hrs information was received that the Norfolk Regiment had secured the Railway to the south near Bohain and that Cavalry had passed through square D.27, whereupon C Coy advanced with a covering patrol in front past farm in D.25.b. 15.50 and in valley D.25.b. 80.99 to railway at D.20.c. 90.40 which was the northern -?- of the Battalion exploiting area. C Coy then moved down the embankment under the supervision of the Commanding Officer who personally led them. But at D.26.c. 60.40 much opposition was encountered chiefly from heavy Machine Guns at J.2.a. 80.70. The second in Command with a Light Gun section endeavoured to outflank the enemy to the east, while the Commanding Officer with a captured light Machine Gun endeavoured to outflank them from the west. C Coy advanced about 200 yards by central support and covering fire, the -?- -?- being eventually taken by the Coy about 18.00hrs. Before this operation had commenced orders had been sent to the Adjutant to direct A Coy to work up the railway from the south, unfortunately the Adjutant was killed at the moment when he was sending the orders to Officer Commanding A Coy, hence this Coy did not receive its orders until somewhat later and eventually approached the scene about 18.30hrs. The result was that the whole of the exploiting line was captured by dusk, capturing two heavy Machine Guns, three light Machine Guns and one Dart machine. Prisoners 10 and several enemy dead were found and two of their wounded were evacuated, unfortunately the enemy had a covered line intact up which about 100 made their escape. Casualties 2 officers (2nd Lieutenant D.H. Sims M.C. wounded and died the following day, 2nd Lieutenant A. E. Brown killed) and 20 other ranks approximately. Casualties, other ranks A Company 3 wounded. B Company 1 wounded. C Company 3 killed, 4 wounded.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
John was born in Hugglescote in 1895. John was single, he was the son of Mrs Annie Walker with whom he lived at 211, Ashby Rd, in Coalville. The Coalville Times told us he was the sole support of his aged widowed mother.
Before joining up, he worked at the Snibstone Colliery

John Walker was wounded during opposition encountered around the railway of Bohain and died of wounds on 9th October 1918 at the age of 23; he had only been in France five weeks.
His death was reported by the Coalville time on the 25th of October 1918 and was confirmed on the 15th November 1918.
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Submitted with photograph by F. Tilley, 2015

Coalville Times article - Friday October 25th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Pte. John Walker, of the Leicesters, is officially reported to have died of wounds on October 9th. He was 24 years of age, and single, being before joining the army, the sole support of his aged widowed mother, Mrs Walker, who resides at 211, Ashby Road, Coalville. He formerly worked at the Snibston Colliery, and enlisted six months ago. He had been in France only six weeks.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 29th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Private John Walker, of the 1st Leicesters, who died of wounds at the Clearing Station in France on October 9th, 1918. He was 23 years of age and had only been in France five weeks. Before joining up he worked at the Snibston Colliery. His widowed mother lives at 211, Ashby Road, Coalvillle.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 10th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In ever loving memory of my dear son, Pte. John Walker, 48900, 1st Leicesters, who died of wounds on the 8th October, 1918, in France.

“I miss him and mourn him in silence unseen,
And dwell on the happiness of what might have been.”

“I had hoped for his safe returning,
Once more to clasp his hand,
But God has postponed our meeting,
Till we meet in the Better Land.”

From his loving Mother, Brother and Sister.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/6/2018