Great War Battle of Jutland Veteran’s long service group awarded to Private C.R. Walker, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was serving on guard duty with the submarine base Dolphin at Portsmouth on the outbreak of the war, and having joined the battleship Canada in August 1915, served the majority of the war with her, being present at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 when Canada fired 42 rounds from its 14-inch guns and 109 6-inch shells during the battle. Walker was awarded the long service medal in December 1916.
Group of 4: 1914-1915 Star; (PO.6619 PTE. C.R. WALKER. R.M.L.I.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (PO.6619 PTE. C.R. WALKER. R.M.L.I.); Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GVR Adm. bust; (PO.6619. C.R. WALKER. PRIVATE. R.M.L.I.)
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Charles Richard Walker was born on 2nd December 1875 in Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, and having worked as a bootmaker, then joined the Royal Marines at Eastney on 2nd January 1893, joining as a Private (No.6619) with the Portsmouth Division, being posted to ‘A’ Company. He first saw service afloat between May and September 1894 aboard the battleship Royal Sovereign, and was then employed ashore through to July 1900, when he joined the training ship Alexandra, and later from April 1901, the battleship Revenge through to July 1903. Service ashore and afloat continued, and by the outbreak of the Great War, he was serving with the submarine base Dolphin at Portsmouth, being then posted back to the Portsmouth Division in May 1915, and then to the battleship Canada from 10th August 1915, and as such then saw service with the 4th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet.
As such Walker was aboard Canada at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May to 1st June 1916, when she fired 42 rounds from its 14-inch guns and 109 6-inch shells during the battle, and suffered no hits or casualties. During the battle, it got off two salvoes at the disabled cruiser Wiesbaden at 18:40, and fired five more at an unknown ship around 19:20. It fired its 6-inch guns at German destroyers at 19:11. Canada was transferred to the 1st Battle Squadron on 12th June 1916. Walker remained aboard Canada until posted off her and back to the Portsmouth Division on 10th August 1918, having in the meantime been awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 4th December 1916. Walker was then posted to Ireland to a Royal Marine Garrison there from 9th October 1918, but rejoined the Portsmouth Division from 13th November 1918, and having been demobilised in March 1920, and pensioned in December 1920, remained on pensioned service until discharged on 29th March 1925. Confirmed as his full entitlement.
