Aaron's Story.
4628 Private Aaron Walker, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars, was deployed from India to Natal with his Regiment in September 1899 before the Second Anglo Boer War started in October that year. Private Walker died of enteric fever (typhoid) at Intombi Hospital, Ladysmith, Natal. He was buried in Intombi cemetery.
Aaron's date of death is variously recorded as 23rd, 26th or 28th December 1901.
On 4th April 1902, a presentation of commemorative tribute medals was made in Winsford, including to these soldiers:
100th Company, 5th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
Captain James A. TURNER
Army Service Corps [from 4th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Militia)] –
7402 Corporal John BECKETT (died, Middelberg, 05/02/1902 - medal presented to his father)
19th Hussars –
4628 Private Aaaron WALKER (died, Ladysmith, 23/12/1899 - medal presented to his father)
Presentation made by Mr J.P. Jackson in the Drill Hall, Winsford.
Captain Turner's tribute medal
The Chairman then presented Captain TURNER with a silver medal, from the town, amid applause. On one side of the medal were troopers on horseback and round the border “Transvaal War in South Africa 1900-1901”, and on the other “Presented by the town of Winsford to Captain James A. Turner in recognition of his patriotism and valour in serving in the Transvaal War as an officer on the staff”. Captain Turner expressed his thanks for the town’s recognition of his services, and briefly narrated one or two war incidents to the intense gratification of the large audience. He also expressed his sympathy with the parents of Corporal BECKETT and Private WALKER, and encouraged them to think that the men had died for a good cause.
The Chairman then handed the medals to the parents named. They were similar in pattern to the one he presented to Captain TURNER. One bore the inscription: – “presented by the town of Winsford as a souvenir of the patriotism and valour of Corporal John Beckett, of the 4th Royal Warwickshire Militia Regiment, serving in the Transvaal, and died at Middelburg, February 5th, 1902”. The other bore the words: – “Presented by the town of Winsford as a souvenir of the patriotism and valour of Private Aaron Walker, of the 19th Hussars, serving in the Transvaal, and died at Ladysmith, December 23rd, 1899”.
(Northwich Guardian, 9th April 1902)
Aaron's name appears on the Winsford War Memorial in Cheshire, erected in 1906, which now stands in the main shopping area of the town.
Possible family history: There is no corroborative evidence to support the following idea, but Aaron Walker may have been born in the late summer of 1880, the twin of Moses Walker, sons of Own Walker (1841 - 1907) and Isabella Alldis. Owen was a coal merchant, and the family home in 1881 and 1891 was at 39 John Street, Over, near Winsford. If you have any further information on the identity of Aaron's family, please contact Cheshire Roll.
Rsearched by Shena Lewington (November 2026)
Aaron's date of death is variously recorded as 23rd, 26th or 28th December 1901.
On 4th April 1902, a presentation of commemorative tribute medals was made in Winsford, including to these soldiers:
100th Company, 5th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
Captain James A. TURNER
Army Service Corps [from 4th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Militia)] –
7402 Corporal John BECKETT (died, Middelberg, 05/02/1902 - medal presented to his father)
19th Hussars –
4628 Private Aaaron WALKER (died, Ladysmith, 23/12/1899 - medal presented to his father)
Presentation made by Mr J.P. Jackson in the Drill Hall, Winsford.
Captain Turner's tribute medal
The Chairman then presented Captain TURNER with a silver medal, from the town, amid applause. On one side of the medal were troopers on horseback and round the border “Transvaal War in South Africa 1900-1901”, and on the other “Presented by the town of Winsford to Captain James A. Turner in recognition of his patriotism and valour in serving in the Transvaal War as an officer on the staff”. Captain Turner expressed his thanks for the town’s recognition of his services, and briefly narrated one or two war incidents to the intense gratification of the large audience. He also expressed his sympathy with the parents of Corporal BECKETT and Private WALKER, and encouraged them to think that the men had died for a good cause.
The Chairman then handed the medals to the parents named. They were similar in pattern to the one he presented to Captain TURNER. One bore the inscription: – “presented by the town of Winsford as a souvenir of the patriotism and valour of Corporal John Beckett, of the 4th Royal Warwickshire Militia Regiment, serving in the Transvaal, and died at Middelburg, February 5th, 1902”. The other bore the words: – “Presented by the town of Winsford as a souvenir of the patriotism and valour of Private Aaron Walker, of the 19th Hussars, serving in the Transvaal, and died at Ladysmith, December 23rd, 1899”.
(Northwich Guardian, 9th April 1902)
Aaron's name appears on the Winsford War Memorial in Cheshire, erected in 1906, which now stands in the main shopping area of the town.
Possible family history: There is no corroborative evidence to support the following idea, but Aaron Walker may have been born in the late summer of 1880, the twin of Moses Walker, sons of Own Walker (1841 - 1907) and Isabella Alldis. Owen was a coal merchant, and the family home in 1881 and 1891 was at 39 John Street, Over, near Winsford. If you have any further information on the identity of Aaron's family, please contact Cheshire Roll.
Rsearched by Shena Lewington (November 2026)