Henry Walter WALKER [1865-1940]
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Submitted by jill on Wed, 2018-01-10 00:49
Sex:
Male
Status:
Deceased
Captain Henry Walter Walker and his wife, Tomé, lived at the house called "Brinkelly", no. 15 Broadwood Road, from the inception of Broadwood Road in 1916. (See my post on Tomé Walker). They were near neighbours of my grandfather, C.E. Warren, who probably built their house, but I know nothing about them. I haven't found Henry Walker in the Jurors Lists or the Carl Smith Index. Any information welcome.
As I said in my previous post, Henry Walker died in 1940, aged 73, and is buried in the Protestant Cemetery.
Jill
Connections:
- Henry Walter WALKER [1865-1940] spouse of Tomé WALKER [c.1878-1944]
Comments
His death was reported on
His death was reported on page 6 of the Hong Kong Daily Press, 1940-03-01:
DEATH OF CAPT. H. W. WALKER
Capt. Henry Walter Walker, who was master of a Canton river boat for many years, and who died at the Matilda Hospital, The Peak was buried at the Colonial Cemetery yesterday evening. The Rev. Charles Strong, Chaplain of the Seamen's Institute, officiated at the graveside. The deceased, who was 73 years of age, leave a widow. Both have resided in Hongkong for 45 years
Newspaper obituaries as source of information
Thanks for finding the obituaries of Annie Bond and Captain Walker. If one has the death date of a person from the grave inscription, it's obviously a good idea to look at the newspapers for a day or so afterwards. Both "Bond" and "Walker" are so common, I didn't get any result from a general search.
It sounds as if Henry Walker arrived in Hong Kong in 1895, the exact same year as my grandfather, although he might not have had his feet on land very much. However he would have been a part of the seafaring community known to Charles Warren's father-in-law, John Olson. With 45 years in Hong Kong, Walker must have had many stories to tell.
Capt. Harry Walker
I am Capt. Harry's and Tome's grand nephew - His brother (my grandfather) was Herbert Alexnder Walker of Somerset West South Africa, His parents were Henry (b1869) and Annie Walker (nee Miller) of 18 Antcliffe Street, Mile End Old Town, Middlesex, UK. His brothers were Arthur John, Frank Sydney, Philip Graham, Sisters Lilian and Annie Juliet.
Tome Walker
Tome was Chinese
Grave inscription for Henry and Tomi Walker
From Patricia Lim's data base of the Colonial Cemetery at Happy Valley:
19---/02/01-
R.I.P. / In / loving memory / of / Captain Henry Walter Walker / died 9th February 1940 / aged 73 years/Mrs Tomi Walker / died 25th April 1944 / age 66 years# 9909 # 10436Brown Jones & Co.
Henry Walter Walker 1 December 1865 - 29 February 1940
Ancestry UK Public Tree
Henry Walter Walker born 25 July 1866 in Mile End Old Town which was then in Middlesex but is now in London. Baptism 7 January 1866 Christ Church Watney Street Tower Hamlets.
He couldn't have been baptised before he was born so I checked the birth register. He was born in 1865. I also checked the baptismal records
The Christ Church Watney Street Register gives his birth date as 1 December 1865
Indentured in Merchant Navy in 1884 aged 18
Death 4 February 1940 Hong Kong [conflicts with probate 1957 and headstone]
UK Probate Calendar 1957
Gives a different date of death. Henry Walter Walker of Broadwood Road Happy Valley Hong Kong died 29 February 1940 at the Matilda Hospital Hong Kong. Probate to Sydney Hampden Ross chartered accountant. [Probated 17 years after his death]
Find a Grave
Death 29 February 1940
The Walkers of 15 Broadwood Road
The SCMP also reports Captain Henry Walter Walker's death in its 1st March 1940 edition. It therefore seems most likely that he died on 29 February. His widow, Tomé Walker, would not have been able to stay in their Broadwood Road house during the war as the Broadwood Road houses were all stripped by the Japanese. As a Chinese she probably stayed in town and no doubt had a hard time, eventually dying in 1944. Perhaps her family know more about her fate.
There is an earlier sea going Henry Walker recorded by Carl Smith as having died in 1842 [CS card 00149899.GIF] and also a Captain Walker "lately of China" who died in 1845 - are either of these relatives?
1940
It was a leap year so there would have been 29th. Perhaps that is why there is confusion?