William Ernest Walker’s birth was registered in Hawarden in 1897 (HAW/43/70) and we see a possible listing of him in a census in 1901. He was recorded as a 4 year old ‘visitor’ at  Beef Steak Row, Hawarden.  Head of the household was Joseph Jones, 48 a Foundry Labourer (Iron) born in Hawarden, Flintshire. His wife Elizabeth, 52 had been born in Liverpool, Lancashire.  Their own  listed children were Beatrice, 17 and Joseph E.  12.

William’s mother, Fanny Edith Walker, 15, had been born in Smethwick, Staffordshire, and was a servant on the 1901 census in the household of Joseph Gibson & Emily Pittman and their son Williams Gibson Pittman, living at 30, Thomas Street, Broughton, Salford, Lancashire.

On the 1901 census Fanny Edith Walker’s  father, William Walker, 65 an Iron Founder, born in  Coalbrookdale, Chin.?? Shropshire was a widower  living with  his children William, 22 ( also an Iron Founder), Agnes, 20, Ernest, 18,  a Shoemaker and  Leonard, 8.

I believe that Fanny Edith Walker married John Price in a civil ceremony in Holywell in 1908 (Vol 11b, Page 299). John Price died on 15th October 1910 (The family grave in Mold records this).

The census of 1911 records the family living at living at Health Street, Shotton. The ‘Householder’  was widow Fanny Edith Price aged 35. Two of her children were listed. They were George Price 2 and Mary Edith  6 months old. Listed in the household was William Walker, Fanny Edith’s 77 year old father. Two ‘nephews’ were recorded. Samuel Walker was a 28 year old Shoemaker and William E Walker was 14.  In addition there were two boarders, Joseph Nelson James and Robert Comthers Murphy. Finally, someone named Percy Stewart was included on the list of those present.

(NB. Fanny Edith Price was named on William Ernest’s CWGC citation as his Mother, but on the 1911 census he was listed as her Nephew).

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk  confirms William’s regimental details above and  tells us that he enlisted in Shotton. His medal card, also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medals.

There is an index card for William in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hwarden.(Card Mold (Urban) F91), means he was living in Mold Parish. He had previously lived in Shotton. The card was signed on the 25th September 1919 by Fanny Price who stated she was his mother.

William E. Walker was well loved as he is also remembered on the Mold War Memorial and the Memorial Screen on St. Ethelwold’s Church, Shotton.