Captain Frederic John Walker

For the English cricketer, see Frederic Walker.

Captain Frederic John Walker, CB, DSO and three Bars, RN (3 June 1896 Р9 July 1944) was an officer of the British Royal Navy noted for his exploits during World War II. Walker was the most successful anti-submarine warfare commander during the Battle of the Atlantic and was known more popularly as Johnnie Walker (after the whisky). Image File history File linksMetadata Frederick_John_Walker_RN.jpg Captain Frederick John Johnnie Walker, CB, DSO & three Bars, RN. Ray Holden? - picture obtained from here: [1] and credited . ... Image File history File linksMetadata Frederick_John_Walker_RN.jpg Captain Frederick John Johnnie Walker, CB, DSO & three Bars, RN. Ray Holden? - picture obtained from here: [1] and credited . ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and other formerly Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... Combatants Allies: Soviet Union United Kingdom United States and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Franklin Roosevelt Joseph Stalin Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... Combatants United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America Germany Commanders Percy Noble, Max Horton, Frederick John Walker, Leonard Warren (L.W.)Murray Karl D̦nitz Casualties 30,248 merchant sailors 3,500 merchant vessels 175 warships 28,000 sailors 783 submarines The Second Battle of the Atlantic was the longest... For other uses, see Johnnie Walker (disambiguation). ...

Early life and career

Walker was born in Plymouth, the son of Frederic John and Selina Walker. He went to Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, where he excelled. First serving on the battleship Ajax as a midshipman, Walker, as a sub-lieutenant, went on to join the destroyers Mermaid and Sarpedon in 1916 and 1917 respectively. Following the end of the First World War, Walker joined the Queen Elizabeth-class battleship Valiant. He married Jessica Eileen Ryder Stobart, with whom he had three sons and a daughter. Plymouth is a city in the southwest of England, or alternatively the Westcountry, and is situated within the traditional county of Devon. ... Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, is the location of initial officer training in the Royal Navy, and is located on a hill overlooking the town of Dartmouth in the county of Devon, England. ... Map sources for Dartmouth, Devon at grid reference SX877514 The town seen from the River Dart Dartmouth is a town in Devon in the south-west of England. ... HMS Ajax was a King George V-class battleship (one of four ships of the class), built at Scotts shipyard at Greenock on the River Clyde. ... A midshipman is a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies of several English-speaking countries. ... Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire French Empire Italy Russian Empire Kingdom of Serbia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria German Empire Ottoman Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Sir John Jellicoe Ferdinand Foch Nikolay II Nikolay Yudenich Radomir Putnik Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Reinhard Scheer Franz Josef I Oskar... The Queen Elizabeth class battleships were five super-dreadnoughts of the Royal Navy, named in honour of Elizabeth I of England. ... HMS Valiant was a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship of the Royal Navy built at the Fairfield shipyards in Glasgow and launched in November 1914. ...

Interwar Period, 1920s-1930s

During the inter-war period Walker partook in the particularly unglamourous field of anti-submarine warfare. He took a course at the newly founded anti-submarine training school of HMS Osprey, Portland which was established in 1924. Walker would consequently become an expert in this particular type of warfare, and would be appointed to a post specialising in this field, serving on a number of capital ships. In May 1933 he was promoted to commander and took charge of the destroyer Shikari, a warship launched in the First World War. Walker took command in December 1933 of the Shoreham-class sloop Falmouth based at the China Station. In April 1937 Walker became the Experimental Commander at HMS Osprey. Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... Chesil Beach from the hill above Fortuneswell, Portland Harbour is on the right. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Insignia of a United States Navy Commander Commander is a military rank used in many navies but not generally in armies or air forces. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

World War II

When the Second World War began, in 1939, Walker's career seemed at an end. Still a Commander, he had been ignored for promotion to captain and indeed had been scheduled for early retirement. He gained a reprieve, however, due to the commencement of war and in 1940 was appointed as Operations Staff Officer to Vice-Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay. Even so, Walker still had not been given a command, despite expertise in anti-submarine warfare that would no doubt be indispensable in the Battle of the Atlantic. During Walker's time in that role the legendary Dunkirk evacuations took place, in which the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was evacuated from France. The evacuation was an immense success, with over 303,000 British and French troops being taken to the UK. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article concerns the rank and title of Captain. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Categories: People stubs | 1883 births | 1945 deaths | Royal Navy admirals | Royal Navy officers | British World War II people ... Men from the French army disembark in England after evacuation of Dunkirk, France 1940. ... The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British army sent to France and Belgium in World War I and British Forces in Europe from 1939 - 1940 during World War II. The BEF was established by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War in case the...

Walker finally received a command in October 1941, taking control of the 36th Escort Group and flying his flag in the Bittern class sloop Stork. The escort group comprised two sloops (including Stork) and six corvettes and was based in Liverpool, home of Western Approaches Command. Initially his Group was primarily used to escort convoys to and from Gibraltar. For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1941 calendar). ... For the automobile, see Chevrolet Corvette. ... Liverpool waterfront by night, as seen from the Wirral. ... Western Approaches Command was a major operational command of the Royal Navy during World War II. The command was responsible for the safety of British shipping in the Western Approaches. ...

His first chance to test his innovative methods in countering the U-boat menace came in December when his group escorted Convoy HG76 (32 ships). During the course of the convoy's journey five U-boats were sunk (four by Walker's group), including U-574 which was depth-charged and rammed by Walker's own ship on the 19 December. The RN's loss during the Battle for HG76 was one escort carrier (Audacity), one destroyer (Stanley) and two merchant ships. This is sometimes described as the first true Allied convoy victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. Walker's group succeeded in sinking at least a further three U-boats during his tenure as commander of the 36th Group. The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, was a small aircraft carrier developed by the Royal Navy in the early part of World War II to deal with the U-boat crisis of the Battle of the Atlantic. ... Originally a German Banana boat named Hanover and captured by the Royal Navy during 1939/40, HMS Audacity was the very first escort carrier. ... The first USS McCalla (DD-253) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy. ... Cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship that carries goods and materials from one port to another. ...

In 1942 Walker left the 36th Group and became Captain (D) Liverpool, granting him some respite to recuperate. He finally returned to a ship command when he became commander of the Second Support Group in 1943, consisting of six sloops. Walker flew his flag in Starling, a newly-commissioned Black Swan-class sloop. The group was the first hunter-killer group intended to actively hunt and destroy the U-boats that lurked in the Atlantic rather that be merely restricted to escorting convoys. Such an innovative idea was suggested by Walker to Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches Command Sir Max Horton. Such a combination of an active hunting group and a charismatic, determined and innovative anti-submarine specialist such as Walker would prove to be a potent force. One eccentric aspect of his charismatic nature was the playing of the tune A Hunting We Will Go over the ship's tannoy when returning to their base. This article is about the year. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... USS Constellation, a United States Navy sloop-of-war. ... HMS Starling (U66) was a Modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. ... The Black Swan class and Modified Black Swan class were two classes of sloop of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... Admiral Sir Max Kennedy Horton (29 November 1883 - 30 July 1951) was a British First World War submariner and commander-in-chief of the Western Aproaches in the latter half of the Second World War, responsible for British participation in the Battle of the Atlantic. ...

In June 1943 Walker's own ship Starling was personally responsible for the sinking of two U-boats. The first (U 202) meeting its demise by depth charges and gunfire, and the other (U 119) by depth charges and ramming. A further U-boat was sunk by his group on the same day as the latter sinking. One highly successful tactic employed by Walker was for three or more sloops in line to launch depth charges stern to saturate the area with depth charges in a manner similar to a rolling barrage by artillery that precedes an infantry attack. On the 30 July Walker's group encountered a group of three U-boats (two were vital submarine replenishment boats known as "Milk Cows") while in the Bay of Biscay. Walker subsequently signalled the "general chase" to his group and in a most swift manner all three boats were hit ensuring they couldn't dive culminating in all three being dispatched. Two of the submarines, including one "milk cow", had been sunk by Walker's group. The second "milk cow" had met its demise by Australian Short Sunderland aircraft. Aft of the Soleil Royal, by Jean Bérain the Elder. ... A 155 mm artillery shell fired by a United States 11th Marine regiment M-198 howitzer Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... July 30 is the 211th day (212th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 154 days remaining. ... The Type XIV U-boat was a modification of the Type IXD, designed to resupply other U-boats. ... Map of the Bay of Biscay. ... The Sunderland, S.25, was a flying boat patrol bomber, developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers, based on their successful S.23 Empire flying boats, the flagship of Imperial Airways. ...

Upon his return to Liverpool, Walker was informed that his son, Timothy, had been killed whilst serving aboard the submarine Parthian in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ...

On the 6 November Walker's group sunk two further U-boats, these would be Walker's last sinkings in 1943. In early 1944 Walker's group would display their prolific nature in their efforts against the U-boats. On 31 January Walker's group gained their first kill of the year when they sunk U-592. On 9 February his group sunk 3 U-boats and sunk two further U-boats that month. On 20 February 1944 one of Walker's group, Woodpecker, was torpedoed and 7 days later while being towed home was sunk. All of her crew were saved. They returned to their base at Liverpool to the thrilled jubilation of the city's inhabitants and the Admiralty itself, the First Lord of the Admiralty was present to greet Walker and his ships. Walker gained promotion to Captain. November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... HMS Woodpecker (U08) was a modifed, 1,300 ton Royal Navy Black Swan class sloop that fought during World War II. The ship was built by William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton, Scotland. ... Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... Albert Victor Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough, KG (1 May 1885 - 11 January 1965) was a British Labour and Co-operative politician. ...

In March, Walker's group provided the escort for the American cruiser USS Milwaukee which was on its way to Russia as part of the lend-lease program which was successfully delivered the Russians. During the journey Walker's group sank two U-boats and another on the return trip. Walker's last duty was protecting the fleet from U-boats during D-Day, the immense Allied invasion of France. This he did so successfully for 2 weeks, no U-boats managing to get past Walker and his vessels, with a significant number of German U-boats being sunk and damaged in the process. During this concerted effort Walker's dedication to his tasks was tremendous, having no respite from his duties that would ultimately be a cause for his untimely passing. The third USS Milwaukee (CL‑5) was laid down 13 December 1918 by Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co. ... The Lend-Lease program was a program of the United States during World War II that allowed the United States to provide the Allied Powers with war material without becoming directly involved in the war. ... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (Heeresgruppe B) Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000,000 in France by early June, but split...

Death and Legacy

Walker suffered a cerebral thrombosis on 7 July 1944 and died two days later at the Naval Hospital at Seaforth, Merseyside aged 48, his death ultimately being attributed to overwork and exhaustion. A thrombus or blood clot is the final product of blood coagulation, through the aggregation of platelets and the activation of the humoral coagulation system. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Seaforth is a district in Sefton, Merseyside, North West England. ...

His funeral service took place at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral with full naval honours and attended by about 1,000 people. The scene was quite emotional as the naval procession followed, travelling through the streets of Liverpool to the docks where he embarked aboard the destroyer Hesperus (commanded by Captain Donald Macintyre) for his final journey to be buried at sea. North elevation of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. ... HMS Hesperus (H57) was an H-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. ...

Statue of Frederic John Walker at the Pier Head, Liverpool

He had sunk more U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic than any other British or Allied commander and was instrumental in the Allied victory of the Battle of the Atlantic, arguably one of the most pivotal campaigns during the war. He had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) four times and also became a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). In 1998 a statue of Captain Johnnie Walker in a typical pose was unveiled at the Pier Head in Liverpool by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. The campaign for the statue had been launched by the Captain Walker's Old Boys Association and the sculpture was designed by the Liverpool sculptor Tom Murphy. Members of that organisation converged in Liverpool during the 60th Anniversary of the victory of the Battle of the Atlantic in 2003 to commemorate their comrades. Image File history File links Captain_Frederick_John_Walker,_RN.JPG Statue of Captain Frederick John Walker, RN. Photo taken 25 January 2005. ... Image File history File links Captain_Frederick_John_Walker,_RN.JPG Statue of Captain Frederick John Walker, RN. Photo taken 25 January 2005. ... Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and other formerly Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The Pier Head is a riverside location in the city-centre of Liverpool, England. ... Liverpool waterfront by night, as seen from the Wirral. ... The Duke of Edinburgh The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) (born 10 June 1921, Greece) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... Tom Murphy may refer to one of the following people: Tom Murphy, the Irish playwright Tom Murphy, the mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1993–2005 Tom Murphy, the former speaker of the house in the Georgia General Assembly Tom Slab Murphy, chief of staff of the IRA Army Council. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Johnnie Walker's grandson, Patrick Walker, continues the Walker association with the Royal Navy. He is, ironically, a submariner and has achieved the rank of Captain of the First Submarine Squadron. He is also President of the Captain Walker's Old Boys Association dedicated to Captain Walker and the men that served with him. USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ...

External links

• Walker, RN, BBC People's War

References

• Robertson, Terence (1956). Walker, RN. London: Evans Brothers Limited.
• Short biographies of Royal Navy (RN) Officers, 1939-1945