David Walker was born at Nook Farm, Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, in 1882, the son of William David and Mary Walker (née McCaw). He was one of eight known children in the family and his father was a farmer.
On completing his education, he joined the civil service as a boy copyist and moved to London. On reaching the age of 20 years, he was obliged to leave that position and what became of him afterwards is not known.
However, in the summer of 1911, he married Florence Ethel Willsher in London.
By 1914, he was a secretary, working for Frederick Stark Pearson, of the Pearson Engineering Company of 115. Broadway, New York City. It is possible that he commenced his employment with Mr. Pearson in 1914 as the first time he travelled from England to New York City was in September 1914.
In the spring of 1915, he had been in New York City in the United States of America, having arrived on 26th March on board the Lusitania. For his return to England, he booked a saloon passage on the May sailing of the Lusitania which was due to leave New York on the morning of the first day of that month. Both Mr. Pearson and his wife, Mabel, were also booked on the same sailing.
David Walker joined the liner (with ticket number 46095), at her berth at Pier 54 in New York harbour and was escorted to room D46 which was the personal responsibility
of First Class Bedroom Steward William Barnes who came from Wallasey, Cheshire, on the opposite bank of the River Mersey from Liverpool.
The liner eventually left New York just after mid-day and just six days later when she was off the coast of southern Ireland; she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20. David Walker was killed as a result of this sinking and as his body was never found and identified afterwards, he has no known grave. He was aged 32 years.
Neither of the Pearson’s survived the sinking either, but Bedroom Steward Barnes who had looked after David Walker in room D46, did, and eventually made it back to his Wallasey home.
On 28th June 1915, administration of David Walker's estate was granted at London to his widow Florence. His effects were valued at £109-2s-4d., (£109.12p.). His address at the time of his death was given as 1b New Street, Kennington, Surrey, England.
It is possible that David Walker and his wife were estranged at the time of his death as when crossing the Atlantic Ocean in September 1914 and March 1915 he stated that he was unmarried.
Although he has no grave, he is remembered on his family gravestone at Balmaghie Parish Churchyard.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1891 Census of Scotland, 1901 Census of England & Wales, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Dumfries and Galloway Standard, The Scotsman, Tragedy of the Lusitania, Probate Records, PRO 22/71, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv D92/2/258, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Stuart Williamson, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.