PRIVATE J A WALKER
ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
24TH DECEMBER 1916 AGE 29
BURIED: POPERINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM
Private Walker died on Christmas Eve, the same night that long ago the heavenly host is said to have greeted the shepherds with the words: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men" (Luke 2:14). Mrs Daisy Walker, Private Walker's widow, in choosing the words of the Psalmist for her husband's inscription, asserts that it is in God's power to end war:
"He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire."
Psalm 46 v.9
What does she mean by "My joy and crown"? St Paul meant that the Philippians were his joy and crown, his reward and his blessing, and exhorted them not to fall away from their belief in Christ.
"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved."
Philippians 4:1
Mrs Walker may have had another person in mind as her 'joy and crown' but was stating that she would not fall away from her belief in God.
Private Walker served with the 5th (London) Field Ambulance, part of the 47th London Division. A Territorial Force, it had been in action since March 1915. The History of the 5th London Field Ambulance describes the locations where it served, lists the 50 men who were killed, and concludes with a wonderful piece of verse:
The Chorus of the 'Fifth'
by R. Wyatt
The Fifth the fliers
The Fifth the triers
The Fifth that never tires
And that never makes a fuss,
Oh we will tell you on the strict Q.T.
Just the sort o'kind o'chaps we be
We are the Fifth London Ambulance R.A.M.C.