Frederic John Walker

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Captain Frederic John Walker, C.B., D.S.O.*** (3 June, 1896 – 9 July, 1944) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of Commander Frederic M. Walker, R.N., this man's name is offered in some Service Records, and in at least some Navy Lists[1] as "Frederick". I have somewhat arbitrarily chosen Frederic as the proper spelling.

Walker entered the Royal Navy with the May 1909 intake term at the Training Establishment. He passed out with sixty-one other midshipmen in April, 1913 ranked fourth in order of merit on his examinations.[2] His first appointment, on 15 January, 1914, was to the battleship Ajax of the Second Battle Squadron. He served in her until being appointed to the old "C" Class destroyer Mermaid on 6 March, 1916.[3]

After taking a five day course in Torpedo Control at H.M.S. Vernon, Walker was appointed to the "R" Class destroyer Sarpedon on 15 August, 1916.

Walker was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant while serving in Sarpedon on 15 August, 1917 and remained in the ship until being appointed to the battleship Valiant on 24 March, 1919.[4]

Walker was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 August, 1926.[5]

Walker was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1931.[6]

World War II

Walker would excel in anti-submarine warfare during World War II, devising and implementing a variety of means by which an escort group could prosecute and kill a submerged enemy. Using these methods, he destroyed seventeen U-boats from a variety of small sloops.

Walker was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1942.[7]

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Roland F. B. Swinley
Captain of H.M.S. Shikari
May, 1933[8] – Nov, 1933[9]
Succeeded by
Cecil A. N. Chatwin
Preceded by
John Creswell
Captain of H.M.S. Falmouth
10 Nov, 1933[10]
Succeeded by
George F. N. Bradford
Preceded by
Geoffrey S. Arbuthnot
Captain of H.M.S. Valiant
5 Feb, 1937[11] – 1 Mar, 1937[12]
Succeeded by
William K. D. Dowding
Preceded by
Alfred Bowman
Commanding Officer, H.M.S. Osprey
8 Apr, 1937[13]
Succeeded by
Newton J. W. William-Powlett

Footnotes

  1. The Navy List. (May, 1939). p. 103.
  2. "New Midshipmen." The Times (London, England), Monday, Apr 28, 1913; pg. 3; Issue 40197.
  3. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  4. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  5. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  6. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  7. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  8. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  9. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  10. The Navy List. (July, 1934). p. 240.
  11. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  12. Walker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/118/137. f. 137.
  13. The Navy List. (May, 1939). p. 314.