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In Memoriam: Stephen Walker

Photograph of Stephen Walker
Stephen Walker

Stephen Walker, of London, was killed in a flying accident near Duxford on 14th May 1918, aged 26 years.

Stephen was born in Saffron Walden on 24th January 1893.  He spent most of his childhood at the Friends’ School, Saffron Walden, where his father was headmaster, and attended Bootham School from 1908 to 1910.

The school magazine, “Bootham”, of February 1909 reports on the school Christmas Exhibition of 1908:

“Several good cupboards and cabinets appear, the best of these being the oak cabinet by R. Gibbins while the work of Walker, Clothier, D. Goodbody and Scrimgeour was commended and prized.”

Stephen won the Workshop prize for Cupboards, and Boxes etc.  By 1910, Stephen was one of the judges for Workshop prizes.

He was keen on sports at Bootham and was in the 1st XI football and cricket teams.

In “Bootham” of May 1909:

“Football Notes by the Captain:

WALKER, S.—Has rendered very valuable assistance, at a time when Mr. Pollard’s retirement left a very difficult gap to fill. Kicks well, and tackles promptly.”

“Bootham” of October 1909 reports

“The School Term

The Pageant cannot be described; a rainfall toward the end caused the performers to omit the ” march past,” which is regrettable. This spectacle made the last half day of the term a memorable one. A number of parents of boys were present, and after supper at the school, joined us in the John Bright Library, where announcements were made of the cricket prizes and aquatics prizes. G. H. Pearman was awarded the bat for the best batting, S. Faraday the one for best bowling, and S. Walker a special bat for his fine record of 47 wickets at an average under 14.”

By March 1910, Stephen had joined the football committee at school.

In “Bootham” of  May 1910 we read:

“Football report:

Nov. 13, v. NORTHERN FOXES. Lost, 1—3.

S. Walker, at right back, always a mainstay of the team, played even better than usual.

Football Notes by Captain

WALKER, S.—-Is an extremely difficult man to get past, owing to his length of leg and speedy and timely tackling. But a most unfortunate habit of sitting down gives a great advantage to a forward who does escape him.”

By the October 1910 issue of “Bootham”, Stephen had joined the cricket committee. This issue includes the following:

“Notes on the Team by the Captain

WALKER, S.—Has kept up a good bowling standard— sometimes very difficult, with varying pace and break, but easy balls on the leg side come too frequently. Takes O.S. bat for batting, being very successful early on ; his play is vigorous and entertaining, but after all the first thing is to stay in!”

 and

“Bene Decessit

S. WALKER has been a mainstay to the cricket and football teams for two years, and has just passed London Matric. He has twice running been awarded the Old Scholars’ bat, and this year he was top of the School batting averages, and third on the bowling, with 61 wickets to his credit. He was also one of the soundest full-backs the School has known.”

A few years later, “Bootham” of  November 1913 reports:

“Across the Months

STEPHEN WALKER (1908-10) has passed the Intermediate Exam, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.”

 and then in “Bootham” of  March 1916:

“Across the Months

Degrees etc.

STEPHEN WALKER (1908-10) has passed the Final Examination of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.”

The next we read of Stephen is in “Bootham” of  May 1918:

“O.Y.S. War-time Service Lists.

Old York Scholars serving in the Navy and Army.

Walker, S., Sec.-Lieut., R.F.C.”

 but there is sad news in the next issue of July 1918:

“Deaths

WALKER.—On the 14th May, 1918, killed whilst flying in England, Stephen Walker, of Saffron Walden (1908-10), in his 26th year.”

 Stephen’s obituary appeared in “Bootham” of  April 1919:

“In Memoriam

STEPHEN WALKER (1908-10). The news of Stephen Walker’s sudden death came to all the School with a great shock. Perhaps the first thing that those who knew him would say of him is that he was a sportsman. And it is as a true sportsman, a good comrade, and a straight man, that I personally remember him. In his schooldays, at Ackworth and Bootham, he shone as an all-round athlete, and later he was one of the best full-backs who have turned out for the Foxes football team. As a cricketer, both as batsman and left-hand bowler, he was well to the fore, and as one of the “Falcons “he was on tour in the West of England when war was declared in 1914. His own desire was to “join up” in the early months of the war, but it seemed best that he should complete the term of his articles as a Chartered Accountant; but as soon as his examinations were over he entered the R.F.C. as despatch-rider. After some months in France he returned to England and obtained a commission in the Cambridgeshire Regiment. As a cadet he did so well in certain branches that he was offered a post as instructor to the United States troops in America, but his reply was that that was an older, or married man’s job. After some time on the East Coast he was passed fit for flying, and went to Reading, and from there was sent to Duxford, only seven miles away from his own home, for flying practice. He was always spoken of as a careful airman, and we had begun to feel quite easy in mind as to his safety. On Tuesday, May 14th, he was seen shortly after six to pass over Saffron Walden, and a few hours later the news came that on trying to land, his plane had got into a flat spin and had crashed down, Stephen being killed instantly.

The funeral took place in the Friends’ Burial Ground, Saffron Walden, on the following Friday. His fellow-officers at Duxford sent a most beautiful wreath as a tribute, and flowers from the Saffron Walden School gardens were made into wreaths from Scholars and Staff.

At such times we feel that words are of little avail, but we realise that death is only an episode in the life of our souls, and cannot separate us from the love of those who have achieved the great adventure. J. P. W.”

2nd Lieutenant Stephen Walker is buried at the Friends Burial Ground in Saffron Walden.

 

 

 

 

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In Memoriam: Hubert Pumphrey

Photograph of Hubert Pumphrey
Hubert Pumphrey

Hubert Pumphrey, of Bradford, was killed in action in Flanders on 26th April, 1918, aged 37 years.

Hubert was born in 1881 in Sunderland and attended Bootham School from 1895 to 1898. At school, Hubert was active in various societies. He was a member of the Discussion Society, and was involved in Senior Debate.  He was in the Natural History Club, with interests including Archaeology and Drawing. In 1896 at the Annual Exhibition, Hubert won prizes in Stumping (from cast), Pastel work, Illuminations, and Photography.  He took part in  Athletics (Seniors Vault), and in Aquatics, and was a member of the 1st XI football team.  After Bootham, Hubert studied at Durham College of Science.

In the February 1908 issue of “Bootham”, the school magazine, Hubert’s marriage is recorded:

“PUMPHREY—BIGLAND.—On the 11th December, 1907, at Cockermouth, Hubert Pumphrey (1895—8), of Sunderland, to Daisy Bigland, of Birkenhead.”

A year later (February 1909) “Bootham” records the birth of his daughter:

“PUMPHREY.—On the 4th December, 1908, at Bradford, Daisy, wife of Hubert Pumphrey (1895-8), a daughter, who was named Anstice Mary.”

Hubert is next mentioned in the March 1916 issue of “Bootham”:

“Bootham School War Lists,

Under Military Discipline :—

[Those whose rank is not stated may or may not be privates.]

Pumphrey, Arnold, Lieut., 20th Durham Light Infantry

Pumphrey, Hubert.”

(Arnold Pumphrey was Hubert’s younger brother.)

The July 1916 issue of “Bootham”, in “Across the Months”, reports:

“HUBERT PUMPHREY is training at Berkhamsted. In spite of his years he finds he can stick as well as most although (this for the Censor) there is a tendency to go to sleep in lectures given in the evening after a long march and field exercises with pack and rifle.”

and then the October 1916 issue reports:

“H. PUMPHREY joined the **** * O.T.C. last February.”

The July 1918 issue of “Bootham” prints a list of those Old Scholars killed in the War.  Hubert, and his brother Arnold” are both included. The “Deaths” section of the same issue has:

“PUMPHREY.—On the 26th April, 1918, killed in action in Flanders, Hubert Pumphrey, of Sunderland (1895-8), aged 37.”

Hubert’s “In Memoriam” piece in “Bootham” appeared in the December 1918 issue:

“HUBERT PUMPHREY (1895-98), 2nd Lieut. Cheshire Regt., was killed while leading his men at Kemmel Hill April 26th, 1918.

Hubert Pumphrey, son of T. E. Pumphrey, of Mayfield, Sunderland, came of an old Quaker family, one of his soldier ancestors having laid down his sword and embraced the Quaker faith in Cromwell’s time. Like his brothers—the late Capt. Arnold Pumphrey, D.S.O., Durham Light Infantry, and Lieut. (Acting- Captain) Stanley W. Pumphrey, M.C., R.F.A.—he was educated at Bootham, where he was a reeve and in the football XI. After further study at the Durham College of Science he was articled to W. P. Thompson, patent agent, in Liverpool, and eventually, after becoming a member of the C.P.A., was made a partner in the firm. He represented the firm in Bradford for some years, during which time he took an interest in and worked for the Guild of Help. In the early days of the war he was secretary for the Heaton Hall Home for Belgian Refugees, but he felt this work was not enough, and that he must do what he increasingly felt to be his duty—join the fighting forces. In December, 1915, he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C., obtaining in November, 1916, a commission in the Cheshire Regiment. He went to France early in 1917, and was wounded near Ypres in July of that year, being sent home to hospital. In April, 1918, he rejoined his old battalion in France. Early in the dawn of April 26th (less than a fortnight after leaving England) he led his men in what was described as ” a very gallant counter-attack ” on Kemmel Hill, and while running ahead of them he was caught by machine gun fire and instantly killed.

He married in 1907 Daisy, daughter of the late Charles Bigland, of Birkenhead, who pre-deceased him, leaving one child, a daughter. H. K. P”

Second Lieutenant Hubert Pumphrey, of the 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, is remembered at the Tyne Cot Memorial near Ypres, Belgium.

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In Memoriam: Alfred William Johnson

Photograph of Alfred William Johnson
Alfred William Johnson

Alfred William Johnson, of Victoria, B. C.,Canada, died of gas poisoning in France on 17th April, 1918, aged 44 years.

Alfred was born in Madagascar in 1874 and attended Bootham School from 1889 to 1890.

The February 1908 issue of “Bootham”, the school magazine, reports on the annual football match between the school and the Old Scholars.  Alfred was a member of the Old Scholars Team, which the report tells us was very strong. (The score was 19-1!)

The same issue of “Bootham” included, in the “Marriages” section:

 “JOHNSON—MACKENZIE.—On the 28th December, 1907, at Inverness, Scotland, Alfred William Johnson (1889—90), of Canada, to Mary Lillian Kyttie Mackenzie, of Inverness.”

The October 1909 issue of “Bootham” contained the following Birth announcement:

“JOHNSON.—On the 31st August, 1909, at Balquhidder, Kamloops, British Columbia, Mary Lilian Kythe, wife of Alfred William Johnson (1889-90), a son.”

His son was named Harry William Mackenzie.  The March 1912 issue announces another birth:

“JOHNSON.—On the 28th December, 1911, at Balquhiddar, Kamloops, B.C., Mary Kythi, wife of Alfred William Johnson (1889-90), a daughter, who was named Kythi Lucy.”

 By 1916, Alfred has joined the War.  “Bootham” reports under “War Lists”:

“Under Military Discipline :— Johnson, A. W., Second Lieut., Seaforth Highlanders.”

The “Across the Months” section of “Bootham”, June 1917 includes the following:

“LIEUT. A. M. JOHNSON, R.E., Forest Group, rose from Private in the Infantry by way of the Pioneers (Seaforth), into the R.E., and is now in charge of a group in the First Field Survey Company. He took to golf before the war, and says that it has beaten football and cricket to a “frazzle edge,” in fact to a “Fare ye well,” as the Yankees say.”

Then in 1918, the May edition of “Bootham” reports:

“Deaths

JOHNSON.—On the 17th April, 1918, of wounds received on the 9th, Alfred William Johnson (1889-90), of Victoria, British Columbia, aged 44 years.”

The July 1918 edition of “Bootham” includes the following “In Memoriam” piece:

“ALFRED WILLIAM JOHNSON (1889-90). We heard with deep regret of his death. One of his best friends sent these words: “One of the noblest souls I ever knew. Such devotion to duty! Three years as a Trooper in Strathcona’s in Africa and now the supreme offering for us made in France. “He was Captain in the Royal Engineers, Field Survey Department, and died from gas poisoning on April 17th.”

And then in the December 1918 issue of “Bootham”:

“In Memoriam:

ALFRED WILLIAM JOHNSON (1889-90) was born 1874. His parents were Wm. and Lucy Johnson, missionaries to Madagascar, who in 1895 were murdered in a riot there. He was at Ackworth, and afterwards at Bootham. In 1890 he went into business at Sheffield, but his disposition was quite unsuited to such a life, and in two years’ time he went out to Canada. He had a rough and varied experience there, sometimes prosperous, sometimes “down on his luck” for several years. At length he qualified as a surveyor and obtained a Government appointment on the N.W. survey. In 1899 he volunteered for service with Strathcona’s Horse and fought right through the South African War. In 1908 he married Mary L. K. Mackenzie, of Inverness, whom he had met in Canada. He settled in Kamloops, B.C., where he built a delightful home. Two children were born. In 1915 he came to England and, although over military age, persuaded the authorities to give him a commission in the Seaforth Highlanders. He was later transferred to the Pioneers and given a captaincy. He did very efficient work in range-finding and in mapping positions of enemy guns. He was killed by gas in the great German attack in April. After his death he was awarded the Military Cross.

He was as tough as whipcord. He never had a doctor. His character was just like his physique. He always knew his opinion and never minded stating it. He read widely, was a wonderfully graphic and humorous letter writer, never failed to make himself welcome in jovial company. On the deeper things of life he was very reserved, but he had a very real vein of poetry, which he sometimes failed to conceal. He was intensely British. Above all else he was loyal to old friends and associations. His home life was about as perfect as can be. J. H. D.”

 Captain Alfred William Johnson is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.