Name

Ronald McDonald Walker.

Description

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Certificate relating to Rifleman Ronald McDonald Walker.

Life Story

Name: Ronald McDonald Walker.

Service Number: 11758.

Rank: Rifleman.

Battalion: 15th Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.

Born: 25tth September 1887

Died: 22 November 1917.

Address: 5 Salisbury Place, Ligoniel, Belfast

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Ronald McDonald Walker, son of Thomas and Rebecca Elizabeth Walker, lived with his wife Sarah Jane at 5 Salisbury Place, Ligoniel, Greater Shankill, Belfast

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The 1901 Ireland Census has Ronald living at 8 Parkers Street, Shankill, Belfast with his mother, occupation, House Keeper, father, General Labourer, two brothers, Robert, 5 years, James, 9 years, and two sisters, Maggie, 11 years, Annie, 3 years. A Jane McDonald, Flax Yarn Weaver, was living there also, registered as a Lodger

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The 1911 Ireland Census has Ronald living at 22 Legnavea Street, Shankill, County Antrim with his father, Labourer In Mill, two brothers, James, Labourer In Mill, Robert, 16 years. Flax Rougher, two sisters, Annie, 14 years, Flax Spinner, Mary 10 years. Ronald's occupation at this time is given as Labourer In Mill. There is now a Mary, from Cork, registered as his father's wife and having been married for 3 years within the Census also

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Ronald McDonald Walker married Sarah Jane McDonald, Nee Hanvey, within Ballysillan Presbyterian Church on the 12th of April 1912.

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Ronald joined the Royal Irish Rifles.

He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 5th of October 1915.

Ronald was a Rifleman in the 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed on the 22nd of November 1917 aged 30 years.

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A local newspaper states.

Rifleman Ronald McDonald Walker, Royal Irish Rifles, who was posted as missing since November 22, 1917, is now officially reported killed on that date or since. Deceased was formerly a member of the North Belfast U.V.F and Ligoniel True Blues L.O.L. 1932. Prior to enlistment he was employed in the Wolfhill Mill. His brother, Robert, made the supreme sacrifice on the 27th August 1914. Their parents reside at 5 Salisbury Place, Belfast

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Ronald's Soldiers Effects were left to his widow Sarah.

His Will, signed and dated 26th July 1916 left his Property and Effect to his wife.

Dependant Pension Application Forms show both Ronald's father Thomas and wife Sarah as claimants

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See brother also: T/32628 Driver Robert Walker Royal Army Service Corps.

See brother in-law also: 19556 Lance Corporal John Hanvey Machine Gun Corps

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Ronald received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star

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He is Remembered at Thiepval Memorial, France

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To Remember Is To Honour

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