David Walker
"The earliest memory I remember of 'Grandpa Walker' is when he walked down Barret Street (Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire) with his chimney sweep equipment on a small wheelbarrow. I must have been around five years old then, which means he was already in his early seventies then. He was the head of the family and was therefore called "old Adam" by his children and their spouses. His grandchildren of course called him 'Granddad'. I remember him as a very proud man, proud to be descended from an old Yorkshire family. "I'm a Yorkshire man, born and bred", he was used to say to let everyone know, where he and his family came from. But actually, it was only with family history research that I was to find out how deeply rooted the family is in Yorkshire."
DAVID WALKER was born in Thornaby on 03. Dec 1875.
NOTE: Thornaby-on-Tees is a royal charter town, civil parish and former borough in North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire it is on the south bank of the River Tees, 3 miles (5 kilometres) southeast of Stockton-on-Tees and 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Middlesbrough.
He was a child of the Victorian era (1837-1901), which saw Britain reach the zenith of its economic and political power. Exciting new technologies such as steam ships, railroads, photography, and telegraphs appeared, making the world much faster-paced. Britain again remained mostly inactive in Continental politics, 
and it was not affected by the wave of revolutions in 1848. The Victorian era saw the fleshing out of the second British Empire. Historians have characterized the mid-Victorian era (1850–1870) as Britain's 'Golden Years'. There was peace and prosperity, as the national income per person grew by half. Much of the prosperity was due to the increasing industrialization, especially in textiles and machinery, as well as to the worldwide network of trade and engineering that produce profits for British merchants and experts from across the globe. There was peace abroad (apart from the short Crimean war, 1854–56), and social peace at home. Opposition to the new order melted away. The Chartist movement, peaked as a democratic movement among the working class in 1848; its leaders moved to other pursuits, such as trade unions and cooperative societies. The working class ignored foreign agitators like Karl Marx in their midst, and joined in celebrating the new prosperity. Employers typically were paternalistic, and generally recognized the trade unions. Companies provided their employees with welfare services ranging from housing, schools and churches, to libraries, baths, and gymnasia. Middle-class reformers did their best to assist the working classes aspire to middle-class norms of 'respectability.' There was a spirit of libertarianism as people felt they were free. Taxes were very low, and government restrictions were minimal. There were still problem areas, such as occasional riots, especially those motivated by anti-Catholicism. Society was still ruled by the aristocracy and the gentry, which controlled high government offices, both houses of Parliament, the church, and the military. Becoming a rich businessman was not as prestigious as inheriting a title and owning a landed estate. Literature was doing well, but the fine arts languished as the Great Exhibition of 1851 showcased Britain's industrial prowess rather than its sculpture, painting or music. The educational system was mediocre; the capstone universities (outside Scotland) were likewise mediocre. Historian Llewellyn Woodward (1890-1971) has concluded:
- "For leisure or work, for getting or spending, England was a better country in 1879 than in 1815. The scales were less weighted against the weak, against women and children, and against the poor. There was greater movement, and less of the fatalism of an earlier age. The public conscience was more instructed, and the content of liberty was being widened to include something more than freedom from political constraint.... Yet England in 1871 was by no means an earthly paradise. The housing and conditions of life of the working class in town & country were still a disgrace to an age of plenty."
DAVID WALKER was the son of WILLIAM WALKER (1839-1904) and MARY CLARK (1839-1904), who was married twice.
WILLIAM WALKER and MARY Wilson (nee CLARK) married 30. May 1871 in (New) Malton, Yorkshire. Both had five children:
1. Rose Hannah Walker (1872-1949) married to John Jefferson Blythman (1868-1931)
2. Samuel Walker (1874-1945) married to Grace Hall (1879-1914?)
3. DAVID WALKER (1875-1957) married to MARY MARKLEY (1881-1957)
4. Elizabeth Alice Walker (1880-1967) married to Alexander Rowney (1879-1970)
5. William Walker (1884-1970) married to Susan McCarthy (1885-1950)
(see also 'DAVID WALKER / SAMUEL WALKER's OFFSPRING').
Before 'Dave' Walker met 'Polly' Markley end of the 19th century, he was Bare Knuckle Boxing Champion of Durham and prize fighter in the circus. (picture does not show him).
With the introduction of The London Prize Ring Rules (1743) for bare knuckle fighting or "prizefighting" the safety of boxing from the fighter’s point of view was really addressed because of two clear safety advantages over their ancient and modern counterparts.
Firstly, each fighter was allowed at any time during the fight to drop to one knee for 30 seconds. During this time the other fighter was not allowed to attack and the resting fighter was allowed to regain composure and continue, if he could. Secondly, the fighters wore no gloves which meant that they were far more cautious when going for head shots due to the damage that it did to the hands.
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On 31. July 1899, DAVID WALKER married MARY MARKLEY in Middlesbrough. After being married and being responsible for his own family, David retired from prize fighting and became just a general labourer at first. They lived in one of the Toll Bar Cottages (photo), which guard the junction of Cargo Fleet Road
and Marsh Road, North Ormesby, but no longer than until Census 1901. Actually Mary's family used to live there them days. "25th Mar 1904 - Tenancy agreement between Mary Ann Markley, wife of John Markley of Toll Bar Cottages, Middlesbrough, chimney sweep, to George Markley of 2, Toll Bar Cottages, Middlesbrough, chimney sweep, of a stable and outbuildings, on land near North Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough and the use of a pony harness and pony cart for 3s per week." (record is held by Teesside Archives)
When Queen Victoria died in 1901, her son Edward VII became king, inaugurating the Edwardian Era, which was characterised by great and ostentatious displays of wealth in contrast to the sombre Victorian Era. With the advent of the 20th century, things such as motion pictures, automobiles, and aeroplanes were coming into use. The new century was characterised by a feeling of great optimism. The social reforms of the last century continued into the 20th with the Labour Party being formed in 1900. Edward died in 1910, to be succeeded by George V, who reigned 1910–36. Scandal-free, hard working and popular, George V was the British monarch who, with Queen Mary, established the modern pattern of exemplary conduct for British royalty, based on middle-class values and virtues. He understood the overseas Empire better than any of his prime ministers and used his exceptional memory for figures and details, whether of uniforms, politics, or relations, to good effect in reaching out in conversation with his subjects.
In the meantime, also DAVID WALKER had been trained up as a chimney sweep, most likely by either his father- or one of his brothers'-in-law as they belonged to a family dynasty of chimney sweeps. Census Record 1911 states that he was a self-employed chimney sweep living with his family 73 Barritt Street at that time.
From July through September 1911, the family no doubt also suffered along with other residents of Middlesbrough, when an oppressive heatwave ravaged all of England. Record high temperatures across the country spelled bad news for farmers, dockworkers, and city dwellers starting July 17, 1911. The uninterrupted sunshine and oppressive humidity drew thousands to the seaside as temperatures topped out at 98 degrees in cities. It was so hot that many people slept outdoors to avoid stifling indoor temperatures. The two-and-a-half-month drought scorched crops, sending prices soaring. Food spoiled quickly in the heat, causing disease to spread, while in the streets, melting asphalt increased car accidents. By mid-September fall set in, but not before more than 2,500 had been killed by the heatwave.
The Georgian era as such was prosperous, but political crises were escalating out of control. Dangerfield (1935) identified the "strange death of liberal England" as the multiple crisis that hit simultaneously in 1910–1914 with serious social and political instability arising from the Irish crisis, labor unrest, the women's suffrage movements, and partisan and constitutional struggles in Parliament. At one point it even seemed the Army might refuse orders dealing with Northern Ireland. No solution appeared in sight when the unexpected outbreak of the Great War in 1914 put domestic issues on hold. Britain entered the war because of its implicit support for France, which had entered to support Russia, which in turn had entered to support Serbia. Even more important than that chain of links was Britain's determination to honor its commitment to defend Belgium. Britain was loosely part of the Triple Entente with France and Russia, which (with smaller allies) fought the Central Powers of Germany, Austria and the Ottoman Empire. After a few weeks the Western Front turned into a killing ground in which millions of men died but no army made a large advance. The stalemate required an endless supply of men and munitions. By 1916, volunteering fell off, the government imposed conscription in Britain (but not in Ireland) to keep up the strength of the Army.
Latest by then, also DAVID WALKER answered the call and became a member of the 'Green Howards' regiment (photo: Greens Howards cap badge). It was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division and frequently known as the Yorkshire Regiment until the 1920s. The 12th (Service) Battalion (Teeside Pioneers), formed as the "Middlesbrough Pals" on 21. December 1914 by the Mayor and Town of Middlesbrough, landed at Le Havre, Normandy as pioneer battalion to the 40th Division in June 1916 also for service on the Western Front. David Walker hisself was involved at the Battle of the Somme. It was the most terrible day in the history of the British Army with more than 57,000 casualties, of whom nearly 20,000 were killed. But 
the first day of it (01. July 1916) was just the beginning of a four-month operation that would end with more than 1.5 million casualties.
"Grandad got gased (mustard gas) in that battle and had health problems ever since. I still remember his eyes all burnt marked of it. Besides he also got shot twice fighting there. Luckily a tank ran over the trench, in which he fell, after being shot and compacted all the earth round him. The cold slowed down his blood flow, which prevented, then that he bled to death until his rescue. Bullets were still near the back of his spine on his death decades later."
(This photo was taken, unofficially, by Bridlington-born Lieutenant John Stanley Purvis – who was risking a court martial by doing so. He and his men, of the 5th (T) Battalion of The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), were in the second line of trenches and watched as the first wave of soldiers went over the top.)
Historian Arthur Marwick (1936-2006) sees a radical transformation of British society resulting from the Great War, a deluge that swept away many old attitudes and brought in a more equalitarian society. Two major programs that permanently expanded the welfare state passed in 1919 and 1920 with surprisingly little debate, even as the Conservatives dominated parliament. The Housing and Town Planning Act of 1919 set up a system of government housing that followed the 1918 campaign promises of “homes fit for heroes.” The Addison Act, named after the first Minister of Health Doctor Christopher Addison, required local authorities to survey their housing needs, and start building houses to replace slums. The treasury subsidized the low rents. In England and Wales, 214,000 houses were built, and the Ministry of Health became largely a ministry of housing. The Unemployment Insurance Act of 1920 passed at a time of very little unemployment. It set up the dole system that provided 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to practically the entire civilian working population except domestic service, farm workers, and civil servants. Funded in part by weekly contributions from both employers and employed, it provided weekly payments of 15s for unemployed men and 12s for unemployed women. Taxes rose sharply during the war and never returned to their old levels. A rich man paid 8% of his income in taxes before the war, and about a third afterwards. Much of the money went for the dole, the weekly unemployment benefits. About 5% of the national income every year was transferred from the rich to the poor. The British economy was lackluster in the 1920s, with sharp declines and high unemployment in heavy industry and coal, especially in Scotland and Wales. Exports of coal and steel fell in half by 1939 and the business community was slow to adopt the new labour and management principles coming from the US. For over a century the shipping industry had dominated world trade, but it remained in the doldrums despite various stimulus efforts by the government. With the very sharp decline in world trade after 1929, its condition became critical. By the late 1920s, economic performance had stabilised, but the overall situation was disappointing, for Britain had fallen behind the United States as the leading industrial power. There also remained a strong economic divide between the north and south of England during this period, with the south of England and the Midlands fairly prosperous by the Thirties, while parts of south Wales and the industrial north of England became known as "distressed areas" due to particularly high rates of unemployment and poverty. Despite this, the standard of living continued to improve as local councils built new houses to let to families rehoused from outdated slums, with up to date facilities including indoor toilets, bathrooms and electric lighting now being included in the new properties. The private sector enjoyed a housebuilding boom during the 1930s.
David Walker and his family had the luck of pretty steady circumstances them days. In 1926, the family lived in 42 Barritt Street, where Mary (Markley) Walker run 'Walker's Grocery Shop'. David was a self-employed chimney sweep, then. "On the other side of the street, in No.15 if I'm not mistaken, lived my gran's brother, Frank Markley. He was also a chimney sweep. Both were plying for the same business so that there was bound to be little frictions from time to time. Grandad was a proud man. Although having been once Boxing Champion for Durham, he was never ever known to throw his weight around. But he was also known to stand his ground no matter the opposition. Well, one day in that year, after stabling his horse, after he finished work for the day, grandad went home as always. Next day his horse was gone. According to the told story it was a black one. Someone had stolen it through the night. He put his cleaning gear on an old iron wheeled barrow and went to work. When he was done for the day, he went to the police station and reported the crime. The police said it sounded like Gypsies or a horse slaughter. Well four days later, a white horse was suddenly standing outside his front door with a cart attached. His brother-in-law's name was on it. Granddad asked gran, who brought the horse. She said no one. It came back on own accord. For that reason grandad decided to take the horse and cart back to his brother-in-law. He went over to the horse, stroked it and had suddenly whitewash on his hands. It was painted and black underneath. Grandad realised that it was his own horse, stolen a few days before. He got washed, changed and walked over to Frank. He knocked on the door and walked into the middle of the street. The door opened and uncle Frank looked at grandad and sniggered. Grandad said that he would have lost 40 jobs this week through him and that he would owe him something, now. His reply was whistle, "You'll get nothing out of me" and stepped into the street. My father told me that all he saw was uncle Frank fell down and grandad walked back to his horse. He patted it, released the brake and rode it to the stable, then. Someone had informed the police in the meantime telling, what had gone on and who had done it. Grandad was finished stabling the horse, when he saw four coppers coming to his stable. One officer, who knew grandad shouted, "Dave, we have to arrest you!" Grandad answered, "You're not going to. You haven't seen me. So, write a note and pin it on the gate. I'll go myself to the station, when I'm finished here." Knowing that he was once a prize fighter and a man of his word the copper replied, "That's, what we'll have to do, then. Seen that you're not here." Grandad was true to his word and was at the station followed by the officers ten minutes later. He made a statement admitting what he'd done and was released. Next day, the police were at his home, when he finished work asking if he would drop the the theft charge and the assault charge against him would also be dropped. He agreed saying, "I have my horse back and a cart also. So, why not?"
The oil painting 'A young girl picking flowers' by Thomas Frederick Mason Sheard (1866-1921) was once in possession of 'Dave' and 'Polly Walker. Nothing is known about, how it came originally into their household, but "I can still remember this oil painting hanging on Grandad's living-room wall in 42 Barritt Street. Mam loved it very much, because she remembered it having always been in the house. She said it was promised to her on Grandad's death. But it was unfortunately not meant to be, because he lost it on the lend of about a week's wage mid of the '50ties. Grandad was unfortunately a few days late to pay the money back and the bloke had already sold the painting in the meantime for about fifty times more than he gave Dave Walker for it. Grandad was fuming, but he could not do anything about it them days."
David Walker still lived in 42 Barritt Street in the year he died. "My mam had taken over the Grocery Shop of uncle Jack, in the meantime, which he got originally on the death of my nan, 'Polly' Walker. By being a widower grandad lived with us. He had his own room over the shop. It was the 26. February 1957. My mam send me upstairs, like she always did, looking to see if he wanted a cup of tea. Unfortunately, he was bed-ridden after a stroke he had a few months beforehand and couldn't look after hisself anymore. It's sad to say, but this day was the last day I saw my grandfather alive as I found him dead in his bed at this lunch time."
David Walker got buried in Middlesbrough, Acklam Cemetery (A4432; same plot as his wife) on 01. March 1957.
The Grocery Shop got sold in the early '60ties to the Doolan family, in-laws of David's and Mary's grandson, 'Billy Fluen'.