Henry (Harry) H Walker

Killed in Action on the 24/04/1917 at the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe (part of the Battle of Arras)

The Battalion was part of the 2nd Royal Naval Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Harry was Killed in Action 5 days before his 25th Birthday at the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe, 23rd - 24th April 1917 in which the Division captured the village of Gavrelle. The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division lined up for the 23rd April attack on Gavrelle - "The Naval Division was to attack with the 190th Brigade on the left and the 189th Brigade on the right. After the capture of the first objective (the trench system in front of Gavrelle), the 189th Brigade only was to proceed to the further objectives, while the 190th Brigade was to form a defensive flank. The Battalions allocated to the attack were, from right to left, the "Drake", "Nelson", 7th Royal Fusiliers and 4th Bedfords, with the Hood Battalion in close support. This Battalion had to follow behind the Nelson to the second objective and capture the third objective in conjunction with the Drake. The 1st HAC were in support to the 190th Brigade, with orders to go forward as the situation might require. The carrying parties were found from the Hawke and 10th Dublin Fusiliers. The Howe Battalion of the 188th Brigade was attached as a reserve Battalion to the 189th Brigade, the remaining three Battalions of the 188th Brigade being held in Divisional reserve. Two sections from each of the 189th and 190th Machine Gun Companies were to go forward with the infantry, and the remainder were to cover the advance with overhead fire. Medium and light trench mortars were to follow up the advance. The attack was to begin along the whole front at 4.45 am." This was a phase of the Arras offensive (Battle of Arras), 9th April - 16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive: the battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. Harry is also remembered on the Gartsherrie Church Roll of Honour (see photos). Service Record states - Enlisted 14/09/1915, Draft for BEF 10/07/1916, joined Nelson Battalion 28/08/1916 till wounded on the 15/09/1916, returned to duty same date 15/9/16 to the 24/4/17. See photos for Harry's Newspaper clippings x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List, his Navy Service Medal and Award Rolls and the Nelson Battalion Cap Badge.