The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

Four: Acting Squadron Leader L. W. N. Walker, Royal Air Force

India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (341715 Sgt. L. W. N. Walker, R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (341715 Sgt. L. W. N. Walker, R.A.F.), mounted as worn, generally good very fine (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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L. W. N. “Johnnie” Walker served in Egypt 1920-24, Iraq 1928-30 and again 1932-35, and in India 1935-37, latterly on the strength of No. 5 (A.C.) Squadron at Risalpur, in which latter period he qualified for the Medal & clasp. Returning to the U.K., he was serving at Hornchurch at the time of receiving his L.S. & G.C. Medal in October 1938 and at No. 1 A.T.S. Catfoss on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939. Further postings to Aldergrove and Newtownards having followed, Walker was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer (E.) in March 1941 and was posted to No. 3 (Coastal) O.T.U. at Cranwell and thence, in early 1943, to St. Eval in Cornwall.

As supported by the following extract from a letter of reference penned by Group Captain R. G. Stone, he was clearly a popular and efficient Engineering Officer, and quickly attained the acting rank of Squadron Leader: ‘I first met Squadron Leader Walker in 1941, when I was Wing Commander on the Staff of H.Q. Coastal Command and I was immediately struck by his outstanding personality, drive and enthusiasm as a junior officer. So much so that I was mainly instrumental in persuading my Senior Engineering Officer to post him to a very important station in Coastal Command - St. Eval - in a rank two above his substantive rank. There, Squadron Leader Walker was a power of strength: the fact that he has been mentioned in despatches four times is a positive indication that my initial judgment of his capabilities was justified ... ’

Walker, who certainly won two “mentions” (London Gazettes 8 June 1944 and 1 January 1945 refer), ended the War at R.A.F. Milltown and was placed on the Retired List around 1950.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. Certificates for the above stated dates; his private “Passenger Flying Log Book”, covering the period October 1936 until November 1949, and including an aileron control test flight in a Liberator flown by Flight Lieutenant Mike Ensor, D.S.O., D.F.C., one of Coastal Command’s most decorated pilots; and a quantity of photocopied letters of reference from senior officers, including Group Captain A. E. Clouston, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C.

Medals purchased direct from recipient’s widow. See lot 389 for the M.C. awarded to her first husband, Captain R. A. Pomeroy.