Walter Croker's Story.
Birkenhead News 02 January 1918
ROCK FERRY CAPTAIN LOST.
The sad news has been received by Mrs. Poole, intimating that her husband Captain Walter Crocker Poole, of 527, New Chester Road, was lost with his boat, some few days ago.
Captain Poole, who until lately resided at 16, Slatey Road, Claughton, was the only surviving son of the late William Crawford Poole M.D., J.P., of Glendysart House, Ardmore, Co Waterford, and had followed the sea since he was 14 years of age. During his long career he had commanded some of the finest mail steamers sailing out of Liverpool, under the flag of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company. He held the post, under the War Office, of Examining Officer for the Port of Liverpool, and was on patrol duty.
Captain Poole leaves a widow and two sons – both serving, one in the far East, and the other on the western front – to mourn his loss.
Although the newspaper article reports that Walter Poole had two sons he actually had three sons - Lieutenant Wallis H Poole (Royal Naval Reserve), Lieutenant Simon B Poole (King's Liverpool Regiment) and Private William C Poole (Canadian Mounted Rifles) who was killed in action on 6th November 1918.
Walter Poole's photograph, information and newspaper article by Chris Booth.