Pte. Cecil Louis Walker

Cecil Louis Walker was born at Mercury Bay in the Coromandel on 1 October 1886 (reg. 1886/11982). His parents were Richard Maxwell and Ellen Louisa Walker (nee Logier) who married at Glendermott Church of Ireland in County Derry, Ireland on 28 September 1874. Richard had been in the Royal Irish Constabulary. The couple emigrated to New Zealand on board the 'Auckland', arriving on 27 October 1875 and settling in Christchurch. Richard joined the New Zealand Police Force and worked as a Police Constable in both Tauranga and Whitianga. Richard and Ellen had 12 children. Cecil worked as an accountant for the Auckland Rimu Timber Company in Newmarket, Auckland. On 15 March 1915 he enlisted to fight in World War I. He served with the Auckland Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion (Service No. 12/2872). Cecil would see action during the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915-1916 and on the Western Front. On 26 August 1916 Cecil was in trouble for 'drunkenness' and had to forfit some of his pay. Private Cecil Louis Walker was killed in action at Somme in Northern France on 16 September 1916. He was aged 28. Cecil is remembered on the Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France. His brother, school teacher Eric Trevor Logier Walker, was killed in action in France on 30 March 1918, aged 21. Source: Biography by Debbie McCauley http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/2401

• 12/2872 – Private Auckland Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion
• Born: Mercury Bay, 1 October 1886
• Family: Son of Richard and Ellen Walker
• Occupation: Accountant
• Enlisted: 15 March 1915
• Killed in action: 16 September 1916, France
• Aged: 28
• Name recorded on Tauranga Domain War Memorial