Description
India General Service 1908, GV, bar North West Frontier 1930-31, 6007539 Private Cecil Alexander Walker, 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment, later served in WW2 with the Pioneer Corps.
Officially impressed: “6007539 Pte C. Walker. Essex. R.”
Confirmed on the medal roll, for service with the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment.
In the inter-war period the Red Shirt and Afridi Rebellions on the North West Frontier broke out between 23rd April 1900 and 22nd March 1931. The Red Shirt contrary to the previous “revolts” in the region was political in nature and was one of the first inspired by the Indian Independence movement which was picking up in the country.
The rebellion was led by Abdul Gaffar Khan, Leader of the “Red Shirts”, his older brother Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan, aka Dr Khan Sahib later became the first Chief Minister of West Pakistan.
Known was the Red Shirts, fro the clothes they wore, they were officially known as Khudai Khidmatgar, in English “Servants of God”, they revered Gandhi and wanted independence without bloodshed, however the British Empire had different ideas, using their military might to crack down on the dissidence, including the Qissa Khwani Massacre on 23rd April 1930.
Later in World War 2, Cecil continued his service with the same service number.
By the end of the war he was serving in the Pioneer Corps, and was discharge following the end of the war on 3rd September 1945.
For his services he earned the 1939-45 Star, War and Defence Medals.
Pioneer Corps was his last unit, typically reserved for older soldiers, he might have initially served in the 2nd Essex Regiment who landed and were later evacuated from Dunkirk, to earn his 1939-45 Star.
