The great-grandson of a Newark war hero visited the town’s cemetery as part of research into his family history.
Mr Ricki Cliffe, of Norwich, is the great-grandson of Fredrick George Walker, who served in both the first and second world wars, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1948.
He was a regimental sergeant major with the Sherwood Foresters and had a long and distinguished military career, including being mentioned in dispatches in the 1914-18 conflict.
He lived at Granby Avenue, Newark, and was the town’s mace bearer for 20 years from 1934.
Fredrick worked at Newark Drill Hall from 1942 after being discharged from the Army on medical grounds.
He is buried in Newark Cemetery along with six of his sons — Fredrick, Stanley, Wilfred, Jack, Reginald and Leslie.
Other members of the family still live in Newark.
Mr Cliffe was shown round the cemetery by Mr Laurence Goff, of the Friends of Newark Cemetery, who helped him to identify the graves.
He is aiming to find out as much as he can about the family for a DVD he is creating on the family history.
He is particularly interested in the stories of Reginald, and his other great-uncle, Kenneth, who he knows little about.
Reginald was killed in Kent in 1945 during a training exercise, but there is no record of the specific location where he died.
Mr Cliffe said: “There is a very prominent war theme to the family history and six of the seven brothers are buried in the London Road cemetery.
“I knew they were in the cemetery but I never knew where.
“You get to a time in your life where you think ‘who were my family and what did they do?’
“They were all in active service and the visit has helped me to add to what I know about them.
“I am very proud of my heritage and the sacrifices my family and others made during both world wars.
“I recall my many visits to Newark as a young boy and the stories told and pictures shown to me by my great-uncle Wilfred.”
Mr Cliffe is trying to trace a silver presentation tea service presented to Fredrick George Walker at the Drill Hall at around the time he was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal.
There is a tea service at Newark Town Hall Museum but there is no way of telling if it is the same one.
Mr Cliffe said: “I don’t want to own any item. I am just piecing my history together for my family and future generations to cherish the memories I have of my past.”
Anyone who has any information about the tea service can contact Mr Cliffe at ricki
[email protected]
