Badge, headdress, British, Royal Scots (The
Royal Regiment) (INS 5249) cap badge
Badge in light bronze-coloured plastic in
the form of the Star of the Order of the
Thistle. In the voided oval centre St Andrew
and his saltire Cross with red
cloth backing insert, below which
is a scroll bearing the title
‘THE ROYAL SCOTS’. Copyright: © IWM.
Original Source.
Once again my WWI research necessitates a side trip. This time I happened across a newspaper article as follows: In the Portsmouth Herald newspaper of 14 Aug 1917, Tuesday, page 4: “Former Concord Man killed in action. Concord Aug 14.–Alan Walker, 23, who until quite recently was employed at the New Hampshire State hospital, was killed in action last May according to a list of casualties published in a newspaper in Scotland. Walker’s brother, Leonard has won the military medal.”
Allen McEwen Walker was not the easiest person to track down. The newspaper spelled his name incorrectly, though they did get the other details right. Allen M. Walker, like others who fought during World War I in non-U.S. Regiments, were usually not recognized on local and state memorials. As is this case for Allen, as he does NOT appear on the Concord NH WWI monument, nor in the NH State House Honor Roll.
Allen McEwan Walker. Copies of Petitions
and Records of Naturalization in New
England Courts, 1939 – ca. 1942. Textual Records.
615 Boxes. NAI: 4752894. Records of the Immigration
and Naturalization Service,
1787–2004, Record Group 85. National Archives
at Boston, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Allan McEwen Walker was the son of Leonard & Margaret “Maggie” (Ross) Walker, born 1 April 1894 in Forfarshire, Lochee, Dundee, Scotland and baptized on 17 June 1894 in at St. Luke’s Church in Lochee, Dundee, Angus, Scotland. He came from a good sized family with siblings [WALKER]: James, Leonard Ballion, Nelly Ross, May Gordon and Alexander Ballion. In the 1901 Scottish Census he is living in the Dundee area with his family.
Next I find him on 12 February 1913 residing in the United States, when he completed an Intention of Naturalization. At that time he swore to the following; aged 19, occupation, cook: State Hospital; white, medium height of 5ft 6 inches; weight 125 pounds; black hair brown eyes, scar on right side of neck. Residing now at Pleasant St. Concord NH; immigrated from Glasgow Scotland on the vessel Unidian on 17 July 1911.
He did not stay long for by 1917, perhaps earlier, he was a member of The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), 2nd Battalion. His regimental number was 31047. The National Army Museum has some records that show he was killed in action on 3 May 1917, and that his father, Leonard, received his effects.
UK Army Register Effects of Walker,
Allen. National Army Museum.
Allen M. Walker was buried in the Arras Memorial, Arras, Department du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de Calais, France, Plot: Bay 1 and 2. The location of his final resting place gives us a possible clue to how he met his end.
Most of those commemorated at the Arras Memorial were killed in the Battle of Arras which was fought between 9 April and 16 May 1917.
[Editor’s Note: this story is part of an on-going series about heroic New Hampshire men and women of World War I. Look here for the entire listing].
Pingback: New Hampshire World War I Military: Heroes of The Great War | Cow Hampshire
Did he come alone to the US? I wonder whether he went back specifically to serve in the war or whether he had decided to leave the US for other reasons. Interesting post, Janice.
It’s interesting to see the newspaper reporting in August on the death of a man reported in a Scottish newspaper earlier in May. I forget in this day and age where we’re always plugged in and on how slowly and circuitously news traveled back in the day.
Michael, we take a lot for granted now. Communication in that day was regular mail, messenger, or telegraph. Motorized transportation was in its infancy, and a great deal of technology came out of WWI out of necessity.
I’m trying to research whether or not my great grandfather was killed during Ww1 or not. He was from Manchester, NH, and died towards the end of the war. He may have just been run down by a trolley or contracted on of the many festive diseases of the day, of course. But I haven’t the slightest idea where to investigate *cause* of death that long ago – if it’s even possible. I’m not asking you for any specific information, just wondering if you might recommend any resources you may be familiar with. Thanks in advance, and thanks for the posts. I enjoyed reading them.
Mike
Mike, I sent you an email. You did not provide enough info for me to help you!