More about John Walker

41195 Pte John Walker R Scots

John was a single man whose address was listed as 9 Duff Street Dundee. He is listed on the GWD RoH but with no story and His service record being amongst those lost in WW2 it is difficult to ascertain an accurate timeline of his service

From the few records available it would seem that he enlisted to the R. Scots in probably 1915 and underwent basic training.  What is unclear is whether or not he served in a War Theatre,  there are no casualty records,  no movement,  embarkation or disembarkation records.  There are no records of any posting to an operational unit and the only record remains his service with 3rd Reserve and Training Bn R Scots which were based in Glencorse Camp near Edinburgh

We do know however that he is interred locally in Eastern necropolis Dundee having died in Kings Cross Hospital on 1st Dec 1917.  He was a former pupil of Morgan Academy Dundee and on their Roll of Honour he is noted to have died as a result of Active Service.   His death is registered as being due to Miliary TB which at that time was a fairly rapidly fatal form of TB where the Tubercle bacillus infects vital organs well beyond the lungs which is where the more common Pulmonary TB affects.  It seems reasonable to presume that his illness resulted in his return to Dundee as his usual residence on his death register entry is listed as 9 Duff Street.

It is conceivable that the illness could have been a consequence of service but equally conceivable it could  have been contracted at home in Dundee. A final point which contributes to the mystery is the absence of any pension record which might be expected where death was the result of service.