William Walter's Story.
Born at Aston, near Runcorn in 1868, the son of John and Sarah Ann Allaby.
Before the war he had served within the admiralty for 30 years in the Royal Navy Coastguard, and was on the Reserve when war broke out, being summoned to duty from his more prosaic occupation in the employment of the Mersey Power Company at the Salt Union works at Weston Point. He worked along side his great friend and drinking companion Thomas (Todger) Jones V.C , D.C.M
During his time in the reserve he had seen much fighting, and was in the Ashanti Campaign with the Naval Brigade. In 1898, he attended a banquet at the town hall in Portsmouth as one of the crew of “HMS St George” by the major and Corporation of that borough. This was in honour and appreciation of the service rendered by them to their Queen and Country during the commission of 1894 – 98 on the African station, under the flags of Admiral Sir Frederick CD Redford K.C.b and Sir Harry rawson K.C.B.
He was commended for his bravery in 1911, when as a coastguard he made an attempt to rescue a gentleman who had fallen over the cliffs at Flamborough Head. He was lowered down at imminent risk by ropes over the steep cliffs, and although the rescue was not successful, his bravery was so apparent that he was made a “Carnegie hero” and presented by the Carnegie Hero Trust fund with their certificate and sum of money, a cheque, which he never cashed.
His colleagues at Flamborough Coastguard Station also made him a present in the form of a cherrywood pipe, the bowl of which was filled with a gold coin. During the presentation, William told those present that he had assisted in many rescues at sea, and hoped he would always be fit and ready to do so again if the occasion arose.
He died during active service, and his body recovered. He was buried in Runcorn cemetery on Saturday November 27th 1915, about 100 of the Runcorn Volunteers headed the procession, under the command of Major Timmins, and the coffin, covered by the Union Jack was borne by six bluejackets from “HMS Eagle”.
The first part of the service was read in the Mersey mission to seamen (Rev HN Perrin), and “rock of ages” was sung.
The drums of the volunteer band sounded a muffled roll, and Bugler Burtwell of the Manchester regiment sounded the last post.
In attendance were his two sisters Clara and Edith and two brothers Arthur and Frank.
He is also commemorated on the Runcorn War Memorial on Greenway Road.
Compiled By Graeme Ainsworth and Percy Dunbavand