Biography:
Henry Walton
04/08/1875 –12/03/1949
Henry Walton
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Unmarked grave Henry Walton (1875-1949)
Henry was born 4 August 1875 at 14, Holiday Yard, Ludgate Hill, City of London to George William Walton a porter/warehouseman and his wife Jane. On 8 October that year Jane and baby Henry were admitted to the City of London workhouse. Jane was described as 35, married, able-bodied and employed as a char (ie a rough cleaner). They left, at Jane’s own request, 19 November that year. There is no indication of where George Walton was.
In August 1891 when Henry was 15 and employed as a tailor, he volunteered to join the Army. His medical examination records that he was only 4 foot 9 inches tall and that his physical development was equivalent to a youth of 14 years. His hair and eyes were brown.
His mother Jane was given as his next of kin and it is likely that his father was no longer alive or had deserted the family.
Henry joined the York & Lancashire Regiment, initially as a “Boy” and then as a bandsman in 1892. He was appointed Private on his 18th birthday and served in South Africa 1899-1902.
He married Sarah Ann Lloyd 21 April 1907 in Haringey. He was a male nurse living at 5, Hosier Lane, City of London at the time.
The 1911 census records the couple at 12, Cross Oak Road, Berkhamsted. By then Henry was a house painter. They had no children.
Despite being 40 at the time. Henry returned to the Army to fight in the First World War in January 1916. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. His records are amongst those badly damaged, but it is possible to tell that he served in India from 9 February 1917 to 18 October 1918 and in January 1919 qualified as a 1st class marksman. He was demobilised 12 December 1919 and his home address was given as 255, High Street, Berkhamsted.
His record states “Disability Nil” but he must have qualified in some manner for government assistance because by June 1921 he was a trainee upholsterer at the Government Instructional Factory, Dunstable Road, Luton. This was established to provide retraining in skills for 200 ex-servicemen in various fields, including building, vehicle building and furniture making, including upholstery. A lengthy article from The Luton News at the time includes a photograph of the upholstery trainees – perhaps including Henry – at work. www.worldwar1luton.com/blog-entry/government-instructional-factory-chaul-end
The 1939 Register records the couple at 3, Gossoms End. Henry was a self-employed upholsterer and an employer. Sarah died in November 1939 and is buried here.
Henry remained at 3, Gossoms End and died 12 March 1949. He left £1093 (almost £34,000 in 2025)
View this burial in the cemetery
Unmarked grave Henry Walton (1875-1949)
Henry was born 4 August 1875 at 14, Holiday Yard, Ludgate Hill, City of London to George William Walton a porter/warehouseman and his wife Jane. On 8 October that year Jane and baby Henry were admitted to the City of London workhouse. Jane was described as 35, married, able-bodied and employed as a char (ie a rough cleaner). They left, at Jane’s own request, 19 November that year. There is no indication of where George Walton was.
In August 1891 when Henry was 15 and employed as a tailor, he volunteered to join the Army. His medical examination records that he was only 4 foot 9 inches tall and that his physical development was equivalent to a youth of 14 years. His hair and eyes were brown.
His mother Jane was given as his next of kin and it is likely that his father was no longer alive or had deserted the family.
Henry joined the York & Lancashire Regiment, initially as a “Boy” and then as a bandsman in 1892. He was appointed Private on his 18th birthday and served in South Africa 1899-1902.
He married Sarah Ann Lloyd 21 April 1907 in Haringey. He was a male nurse living at 5, Hosier Lane, City of London at the time.
The 1911 census records the couple at 12, Cross Oak Road, Berkhamsted. By then Henry was a house painter. They had no children.
Despite being 40 at the time. Henry returned to the Army to fight in the First World War in January 1916. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. His records are amongst those badly damaged, but it is possible to tell that he served in India from 9 February 1917 to 18 October 1918 and in January 1919 qualified as a 1st class marksman. He was demobilised 12 December 1919 and his home address was given as 255, High Street, Berkhamsted.
His record states “Disability Nil” but he must have qualified in some manner for government assistance because by June 1921 he was a trainee upholsterer at the Government Instructional Factory, Dunstable Road, Luton. This was established to provide retraining in skills for 200 ex-servicemen in various fields, including building, vehicle building and furniture making, including upholstery. A lengthy article from The Luton News at the time includes a photograph of the upholstery trainees – perhaps including Henry – at work. www.worldwar1luton.com/blog-entry/government-instructional-factory-chaul-end
The 1939 Register records the couple at 3, Gossoms End. Henry was a self-employed upholsterer and an employer. Sarah died in November 1939 and is buried here.
Henry remained at 3, Gossoms End and died 12 March 1949. He left £1093 (almost £34,000 in 2025)
