Walker, William – Crimean War Veterans in Western Australia

PERSONAL DETAILS	William WALKER
Birth date and place	c. 1836 Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Notes on variable birth years: c. 1836. Army Attestation document (see sidebar) indicates 17 years in September 1853. c. 1835. Statement signed by Commanding Officer of Royal Cumberland Regiment of Militia (see sidebar) indicates 18 years 8 months in November 1853. c. 1826. South Australian Death Registration transcription indicates 75 years on 15 August 1901. c. 1832 Hindmarsh Cemetery record indicates 69 years on 17 August 1901.
Baptism date and place
Civil Census Residences England, Wales & Scotland
Occupations pre-WA	Shoemaker.
Physical Description	Army Attestation: Height: 5 ft. 5 7/8 ins. Complexion: fresh. Eyes: hazel. Hair: dark brown. Army Discharge: Height: 5 ft. 5 7/8 ins. Complexion: fresh. Eyes: hazel. Hair: dark brown. Militia Document: 5 ft. 4 ins. Complexion: ruddy. Eyes: hazel.
Marriage date and place	NOTE: All information relating to marriages and children is based on the people named Walker buried in the same gravesite in Hindmarsh Cemetery. 1st: c. 1855. 2nd: 9 Jan 1882 United Methodist Free Church, Adelaide, South Australia.
Spouse	1st: Ann ? (died 14 Dec 1880 Brompton, South Australia). 2nd: Mary Jane TAYLOR (widow of Charles STRATMAN/STREETMAN).
Children	1st marriage: James b. 1856 outside Australia, d. 1880, Hindmarsh, South Australia. 2nd marriage: John Hugh b. & d. 1883, Hindmarsh, South Australia. Susannah b. 1884 & d. 1892, Brompton Park, South Australia.
Death date and place	15 Aug 1901 Taylor Street, Brompton Park, South Australia.
Burial date and place	17 Aug 1901 Hindmarsh Cemetery, South Australia. Eastern Area, Row F, Grave 11.
Will and Probate
Death Notices and Obituaries	The Advertiser 17 Aug 1901.
ARMED FORCES
Regiment(s)	Royal Cumberland Militia. 12 Sep 1853 transferred to 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment. 14 Mar 1854 transferred to 9th (Derbyshire) Regiment.
Regiment No. and Rank	#603 (Militia) Volunteer. #2886 (48th) Private. #3107 (95th) Private.
Attestation date and place	9 Mar 1853 (Militia). 12 Sep 1853 Carlisle Barracks, Cumberland (48th Regiment).
Service/Campaigns	Turkey & Crimea 10 months.
Musters
Promotions	None.
Medals, Clasps and Badges	Crimea War Medal clasps Alma, Inkermann. Turkish Crimea Medal.
Casualty/Medical	Casualty Roll: Severe Wound. Second Battle of Inkermann. 5 November 1854. Disabled by contraction of right elbow and partial loss of power of forearm and hand after gunshot wound received at Inkerman. Humerus fractured above elbow. Unfit for the service [Chatham 23rd May 1855].
Regimental Courts Martial	None.
District Courts Martial	None.
General Courts Martial	None.
Discharge date and place	26 Jun 1855 Chatham.
Length of Service	269 days.
Chelsea Pension Reference	WO97/1666/38.
Post Discharge Residence	Carlisle.
Post Discharge Pension District	Carlisle (1855). 1st Edinburgh (1856). Carlisle (1857). Adelaide (1865).
Pension Amount	10d. per diem. 1 Mar 1897 War Office correspondence refusing increase, Patriotic Fund.
ARRIVAL AND LIFE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Ship	Sultana.
Departure and Arrival	29 May 1859 Plymouth; 19 Aug 1859 Fremantle.
Status/Occupation	Enrolled Pensioner Force.
Land Grant/Purchase	None in Western Australia.
Subscriptions	None.
Misc. Newspaper Articles	Perth Gazette 25 Aug 1865. Wallaroo Times 13 Sep 1865.
Ship Departure from WA	Harriet Hope (see sidebar, tentative). Dep. 23 Aug 1865 Fremantle; Arr. 11 Sep 1865 Adelaide. Recorded as ‘J Walker’. This could be an error for ‘W Walker’, or could be ‘James Walker’ (son) per children above.