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Widecombe-in-the-Moor

The Cave Penney Memorial, Corndon Down

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.

RAF 101 Squadron Badge

Alec Walter in Pictures

Click on an image for a larger view

Alec Walter As Part Of Widecombe Morris Dancers (photo From Steven Woods)
Alec Walter As Part Of Widecombe Morris Dancers (photo From Steven Woods)
Father Fred Walter (without Cap) Working At The Old Forge Widecombe In 1920s (photo From Steven Woods
Father Fred Walter (without Cap) Working At The Old Forge Widecombe In 1920s (photo From Steven Woods
Naburn Hospital, Fulford, Yorkshire Pictured In 1938 Before The Hutted Military Hospital, Where Leading Aircraftman Walter Died, Was Built In The Grounds (image Www.countyasylums.co.uk)
Naburn Hospital, Fulford, Yorkshire Pictured In 1938 Before The Hutted Military Hospital, Where Leading Aircraftman Walter Died, Was Built In The Grounds (image Www.countyasylums.co.uk)
Alec Walter's CWGC Headstone St Pancras Churchyard Widecombe (Photo David Ashman)
Alec Walter’s CWGC Headstone St Pancras Churchyard Widecombe (Photo David Ashman)
Daughter Alexandra Born After Alec's Death (David Ashman Collection)
Daughter Alexandra Born After Alec’s Death (David Ashman Collection)
Alec's Wife Lillian (Nee Dowrick) (Photo David Ashman Collection)
Alec’s Wife Lillian (Nee Dowrick) (Photo David Ashman Collection)

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments are shown alongside each photograph above.