WWI 1915 Star & Victory. Royal Marine Bandsman. Walden. Chelsea. 2nd Battle Heligoland Bight, present at High Seas Fleet surrender.
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Correctly named medals RMB 400 Mus WE Walden
William Edward Walden was born in Chelsea to Joseph and Elizabeth in 1879.
Elizabeth was deserted by Joseph and subsequently ended up with her children in the Poor Law Workhouse in Shoreditch from 1882 until at around 1890. Elizabeth died in 1899.
William married Annie Samuel of Ballyroe, Middleton County Cork, Ireland in March 1896.
William we see entered service with the Royal Navy in 1897 with the service number 340041. He is entitled to a Queens South Africa Medal awarded to him on HMS Doris.
He is seen to leave the service in 1903 and we see him re-enlist in Queenstown, Ireland in 1904. He is now given the service number RMB 400. Credit is given to him for his previous 6 years service.
He has a few ship postings from 1904 but is mainly in service at the Royal Marine School of Music. He spends WWI at the RM School of Music up until May 1917 when he is posted to HMS Courageous. Aboard the Courageous, William sees action at the 2nd Battle of Heligoland Bight in November 1917 with the ship firing ninety two 15″ shells at the German Fleet with one shell hitting the SMS Pillau although no damage was incurred. The German Fleet successfully managed to lay an excellent smoke screen to aid its retreat.
In 1918, the Courageous was fitted with a flight deck for a Sopwith Camel and was later to become an aircraft carrier in 1935.
HMS Courageous was present at the surrender of the High Seas Fleet in November 1918.
William was demobbed in 1919 and whew next see him living with Annie and his son at 41B South Street, Isleworth, Middlesex in 1939. His trade now is listed as an Aircraft Timer, no reference is made as to civil or military. There is a reference to him being a RM Musician pensioner.
William died in March 1955.
The ribbon
