John Percy Walton

Rank:LieutenantNumber:120146
Died:01/04/1942Age:33
Incident Date:01/04/1942
Incident Address.Halfway House Marshes, Great Wakering
Died Address:Halfway House Marshes, Great Wakering
Grave Details:I (RC) No. 1244
Grave Photo:No
Cemetery or Memorial:Manchester (Southern) Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born during the December quarter 1909 in the
Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/739, the son of ?????? &
Frances Walton.

1911 Census - No Trace.

Married Eveline Mary Halpin during the December
quarter 1935 in the Manchester South R.D. - ref:
8d/486.   Eveline was born in 1907, the daughter
of Robert & Agnes Halpin.

1939 National Registration - 23 Sunset Avenue,
Chingford, Essex.    John P. Walton - Married -
Born on the 8th October 1909 - occ: Civil
Engineer.  Eveline M. Walton - Married - Born on
the 19th September 1906 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.   Residing with John N. & Alice G.
Gerrard.

Served with No. 22 Bomb Disposal Company, Royal
Engineers.   Gazetted on the 28th October 1941.  
On the 5thn November 1940 with the assistance of
Corporal Bristow to defuse a 250 Kg bomb fitted
with a clockwork time delay fuse and a sensitive
anti-disturbance fuse.  The bomb was situated
inside a gasometer at Romford, Essex.   Due to the
gas, they could only work for 20 minutes at a
time.  Whilst this arduous and angerous work was
going on an air raid was also in progress.  For
their efforts both men were awarded the George
Medal.'

The Scotsman dated the 29th October 1941 - "Royal
Engineers Awards for Doing Hazardous Work in a
Very Brave Manner.    Announced in last night's
London Gazette, six officers and N.C.O.s awarded
the British Empire Medal and six awarded the
George Medal, including Acting Lieutenant John
Percy Walton.   A similar report was in the
Liverpool Daily Post of the same date.

Another successful operation was at the Tunnel
Cement Works, Purfleet, Essex on the 12th March
1941.   Lt Walton working in the Colchester area
had dealt with one hundred bombs, many before the
raid was over. On 5th November, he dealt with four
bombs in twenty four hours all Category A.    
During one particularly busy spell he disarmed 21
bombs in two weeks, putting his life on the line
each time as others hid in the air shelters.

Killed whilst defusing a "Yellow Peril" Balloon
Bomb at Halfway House Marshes, Great Wakering,
Essex.  His assistant Lance Sergeant Charles
Frederick Bristow GM was injured in this incident
and died three days later.  Buried in his home
town of Cranwell in the Cranwell (St. Andrew)
Churchyard, Lincolnshire.

Death reported in the Manchester Evening News
dated the 6th April 1942.    Husband of Eveline
Mary Walton and only son of Frances Thorpe   
Sadly missed by Sister, Bella, John Cyril, Winnie
and mother-in-law Agnes Halpin and Leo, 36
Clarendon Road, Chorlton on Medlock.  Internment
at Southern Cemetery on Thursday the 9th April at
1.15 pm.

Manchester Evening News dated the 10th April 1942.
 Message of thanks from his family thanking
relatives, friends and Sister May of Oxford Hall. 
51 Haydn Avenue, Moss Side, Manchester.

Daily Express dated the 21st June 2018 - "Bravery
Medals of Blitz Bomb Disposal Expert Emerge for
Sale".



   
District:
Manchester (City of Manchester)
Memorials found on:
C.W.G.C.
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