Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Captain F. Walton, M.M., King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action at the battle of Flers, 15 September 1916

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (2538 Corpl: F. Walton. K.R.R.C.); 1914 Star (2538 C.S. Mjr. F. Walton. 2/K.R.Rif.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt F. Walton.); Victory Medal 1914-19, naming erased; together with an Army Rifle Association Queen Victoria’s Cup Prize Medallion, 54mm, silver, the reverse inscribed ‘2nd King’s Royal Rifles, Col. Serjt. F. Walton.’; and an Army Rifle Association Henry Whitehead Cup Prize Medallion, 44mm, silver, the reverse inscribed ‘1st Cheshire Regt. The Henry Whitehead Cup (Cavalry and Infantry) 1913, Col. Serjgeant F. Walton, 2nd King’s Royal Rifles.’, some scratches to QSA, otherwise nearly extremely fine (6) £240-£280

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2008.

M.M. London Gazette 22 January 1917.

Frederick Walton was born in Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire. A Fitter/Mechanic by occupation, he attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in Bradford on 9 January 1900 aged 18 years, 3 months. Posted to the 4th Battalion, he served with the regiment in South Africa during the Boer War from December 1901 to December 1902. He then served in India with the 2nd Battalion from December 1902 to February 1910.
During the time leading up to 1914 he became the best shot in the 2nd Battalion and won several Army Rifle Association medals including three Queen Victoria Cup Medals, the Whitehead Cup Medal, and the J. H. Steward gold jewel for shooting.

At the beginning of the Great War he was a Company Sergeant-Major, and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 August 1914. He was wounded on 3 October 1914 during the retreat from Mons, was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant conduct (London Gazette 17 September 1914) and was awarded the Military Medal. For gallant conduct in the field he was given a commission in the Regiment on 9th April 1915. Serving with the 5th Battalion, he was again wounded, suffering a gunshot wound to the back, on 26 May 1915, during the battle of Ypres.

Returning home, he was for some time an Instructor in Musketry with the 5th Battalion at Sheerness. From there he joined the 18th Battalion in March 1916, to which battalion he was appointed Adjutant on 30 March. Advanced Captain, he was killed in action at the commencement of the battle of Flers, which was fought alongside the 21st Battalion, K.R.R.C., on 15 September 1916, aged 34 years, as described by the Regiment’s Chronicle:
‘Just as the attack was about to commence, the Commanding Officer (Lieut.-Colonel C. P. Marten, West Yorkshire Regiment), the Adjutant (Captain F. Walton), the Signalling Officer (Lieutenant W. S. Mathews), and the Trench Mortar Officer (Lieutenant D. S. D. Clark) were all killed by one shell. It speaks volumes for the training and discipline of the Battalion that, after this catastrophe, the attack was carried to a successful conclusion.’

Walton was buried in the Serre Road Cemetery No.2, France.

Sold with a large quantity of copied research including various photographic images.