Mark Walker

For the fisher and songwriter with the same name, see Mark Walker (songwriter). For the Canadian Ethicist, see Mark Alan Walker

Sir Mark Walker
Depiction of the battle of Inkerman
Born	Finea, County Westmeath, Ireland
Died	Arlington Rectory, Devon
Buried at	Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1846-1893
Rank	General
Unit	30th Regiment of Foot 3rd Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Crimean War Second Anglo-Chinese War
Awards	Victoria Cross Order of the Bath
Relations	Sir Samuel Walker, 1st Baronet
Other work	Honorary Colonel of the Sherwood Foresters

General Sir Mark Walker VC KCB (24 November 1827 - 18 July 1902) was born in Gore Port, Finea, County Westmeath in Ireland. He was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Victoria Cross

During the Crimean War, Walker was a 26 year old lieutenant in the 30th Regiment of Foot (later the East Lancashire Regiment) British Army when the deed for which he was awarded the VC was performed.

On 5 November 1854 at Inkerman, Crimea, Lieutenant Walker jumped over a wall in the face of two battalions of Russian Infantry which were marching towards it. This act was to encourage the men, by example, to advance against such odds - which they did and succeeded in driving back both battalions.^[1]

His Victoria Cross was until recently on display at The Buffs Regimental Museum, Canterbury, England. With the rest of that museum's collections, it has now been transferred to the National Army Museum, where it is not currently on display.

Later life

He was wounded by a howitzer shell during his service in the Crimea which resulted in the amputation of his right arm. He served through the Second Anglo-Chinese War of 1860 as Brigade Major. In 1881 Walker married Catherine Chichester.

He was later knighted and achieved the rank of General. He died at Arlington, Devon England on 18 July 1902.

A memorial wall plaque honoring Sir Mark is found at Canterbury Cathedral.

Personal Life

His brother was Sir Samuel Walker, 1st Baronet QC, liberal MP for Londonderry, Solicitor-General for Ireland, Attorney-General for Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland

References

1. ^ National Army Museum

• List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients
• The Register of the Victoria Cross
• Clarke, Brian The Irish Sword (1986)
• Dept of Economic Development Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Doherty, Richard & David Truesdale Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Kent)

Persondata
Name	Walker, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 November 1827
Place of birth	Finea, County Westmeath
Date of death	18 July 1902
Place of death	Arlington Rectory, Devon