William Walker (RAF officer)

Walker was born on 24 August 1913 in Hampstead, London. He was educated at Brighton College, a private school in Brighton, East Sussex. Following schooling, he followed his father into the brewing business. In 1931, he began as a pupil brewer at a brewery in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire to learn the trade. In 1933, he moved to Ind Coope brewery in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. ==Military service==

Walker joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve on 2 September 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He then underwent pilot training at RAF Kidlington, Oxford, flying his first solo on 28 September. He was called up on 1 September 1939, the day World War II broke out. He was posted to 1 Initial Training Wing, Cambridge on 15 November. On 17 February 1940, he was posted to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire to undergo officer training, He was immediately posted to No. 616 Squadron RAF, who were based at RAF Leconfield, East Yorkshire and flew the Supermarine Spitfire. they were engaged by Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters as they climbed to attack the bombers. He was pulled from the water by a fishing boat, then transferred to an RAF Whaleback that brought him ashore at Ramsgate, Kent. He later transferred to No. 116 Squadron RAF, an anti-aircraft unit. He was demobilised in September 1945. ==Later life==

After demobilisation, Walker returned to his pre-war career of brewing. He would go on to become the chairman of Ind Coope's brewery in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. Upon retirement, Walker turned to poetry. He was also a strong supporter of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. He would attend the annual remembrance held at the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent. His poem 'Our Wall' was inscribed on the monument alongside the names of The Few in July 2010 as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations. He was featured in the 2011 documentary "Battle of Great Britain" hosted Ewan and Colin McGregor on the BBC. Walker died on 21 October 2012, having suffered a stroke three days earlier. ==Personal life==

In August 1941, Walker married Claudine Mawby, one of The Mawby Triplets. Together they had seven children, including Tim Walker a columnist for The Daily Telegraph. Two of the children pre-deceased their parents. before Claudine's death on 13 September 2012. ==References==