Corporal James Alexander Walker
James Alexander Walker was born on 12 May 1899 at 2 North Street, Londonderry, the only child of grocer Alexander Walker and his wife Sarah Jane (née Colhoun). His father died soon after he was born and he was raised by his grandparents, builder James Colhoun and his wife Susan. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 44 Academy Terrace and Fairman Place, Londonderry, with his grandparents and four aunts.
Walker enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 1 or 2 September 1914 (No.1083 – later Corps of Hussars No.71228). On 17 November 1915 he embarked for France with F Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 33rd Division.
At some time prior to August 1917 he returned to the UK, probably due to either illness or injury, before returning to the North Irish Horse reserve depot at Antrim. Whether he saw any further overseas service with the regiment is not known at present.
On 12 March 1919 Walker was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
After the war Walker was employed by the Ulster Bank, eventually rising to the position of bank manager. On 27 June 1928 he married Gertrude Adelaide Emily Latimer at the Church of Ireland Parish Church, Derryvullen, County Fermanagh.
By 1958 he was living with his wife at 47 Bryansford Road, Bangor, County Down. He died in the Bangor Hospital on 15 July that year.
Report on the death of Walker's mother, Derry Journal, 5 September 1941
Belfast Telegraph, 17 July 1958