Reading Out Loud
Focused Elements:
You can have these explanations read out loud by clicking on 'Speak Explanation' (access key 'a')
These controls are to provide alternative means of accessing the information on this page. Two main facilities are provided: adjusting the text size and listening to the text on the page.
1) Adjusting Text Size:
You can increase the text size by clicking on 'Larger' (access key '+'), and reduce it by clicking on 'Smaller' (access key '-'). You can reset the size back to its original value by clicking on 'Reset' (access key 'j')
2) Listening to the Text
You can adjust the pitch of the spoken word, the rate or speed of delivery and the volume. You can also choose the voice to use by clicking on the drop-down list. The default voice is whatever is the standard for the computer and browser you are using.
To set your default, please refer to the description in the Accessibility Statement.
There are normally three sections of text on the page that you can listen to: the headings, the main text and a selection. Click on 'Speak Headings to speak the page headings (access key 'l'). Click on 'Speak Main Text' (access key 'q') to listen to the main text.
You can also select an area of text in the page using standard select methods and click on 'Speak Selection' (access key 'w') to read the selection aloud.
You can enable the reading out loud of the element that currently has focus by clicking on 'Start Focus Speaking' (access key 'f') and you can stop this by clicking on 'Stop Focus Speaking' (access key 'd').
You can pause the audio by clicking on 'Pause' (access key 'r') and resume by clicking on 'Resume' (access key 't').
To cancel or stop the audio click on 'Cancel' (access key 'y'). To restart the current audio from the beginning, click on 'Restart' (access key 'k').
To hide the accessibility controls click on 'Hide Panel' (access key 'h')
To hide this explanation click on 'Hide Explanation' (access key 'x')
Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Those who served in the Royal Air Force in WW2 - Alec Walter
Alec Walter
Alec Walter was born in Widecombe on 10th July 1915.
Father: Fred Walter, Mother Elizabeth Townsend.
Alec had one sister; Daffodil b 1915.
He attended Widecombe School from April 1920 until May 1929. After leaving school he worked as a gardener. On 16th October 1937 Alec married Lillian Bessie Dowrick at St Pancras Church, Widecombe in the Moor. They had a daughter Alexandra* born in 1943.
In 1939 Alec joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and by 1942 was serving as a Leading Aircraftman. Alec was stationed at RAF Holme at Spalding on the Moor in Yorkshire. The Bomber Command base for RAF 101 squadron.
Following further extensive research, with the assistance of a Commonwealth War Graves Commission research volunteer, the facts surrounding the death of Leading Aircraftman Alec Walter have been established and confirmed.
Whilst serving as ground crew at RAF Holme at Spalding on the Moor, Yorkshire, Alec contracted ‘Acute Miliary Tuberculosis’ and died on 26th December 1942 attended at his bedside by an RAF Chaplain.
He is buried and commemorated by a CWGC Headstone in St Pancras Church yard, also on the War Memorial inside the Church.
*Alex never knew his daughter Alexandra who was born 4 months after his death. In the 1960’s Alexandra emigrated to the USA and in 1962 became an American citizen.
Alec Walter in Pictures
Click on an image for a larger view
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments are shown alongside each photograph above.
The information on this page was last modified on October 09 2021 14:22:24.