Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 13, 1916
Private H.E. Walker
(York and Lancs)
Mrs Walker, 33, Cemetery Road, Wombwell, has received the following letter from Second Lieutenant Calvert:
“Dear Mrs Walker,
I regret to inform you that your son, private H Walker, was wounded by a rifle grenade at 7:15 PM yesterday. He has seven small wounds, but as far as I can see none of them were serious, and in a week or two he should be as right as rain. In any case I don’t think you have any cause for anxiety. Your son was just turning round to go back when a rifle grenade landed on the parapet about 2 yards from him, wounding him slightly in the back, neck and the back of his legs. The stretcher bearers were immediately telephoned for while my two sergeants bandaged him with a field dressing.
He was taken straight out to the advanced dressing Station and seemed quite cheerful. His behaviour was the whole time exceedingly plucky, and when I said “good night” to him he asked me to write to you, which I should have done in any case. There was one other man wounded at the time. I am very sorry Walker is gone, as you perhaps know you as my Batman for some months and was a man upon whom I placed great reliance.
He was about 200 yards from the German lines when he was wounded. I expect he will soon be sent back to England, I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Private H H Walker was serving with the Barnsley Italian (York and lengths) His two brothers have also been wounded.