Lot Essay
D.C.M. Submitted to the Queen 4.1.1883.
Private Charles Edmund Walkley, D.C.M., was born in Brixton, London and enlisted under the alias of 'Joseph Burges' into the 84th Foot, afterwards the York and Lancaster Regiment, in January 1876, aged 18 years - in a sworn declaration in February 1879, supported by his Certificate of Baptism, Walkley revealed his true identity. A promising start by way of advancement to Corporal in July 1877 and to Sergeant in April 1878 fell by the wayside in April 1879, when he was confined and reduced to Private for drunkeness and absence. Clearly rather a character, Walkley quickly regained his former N.C.O. status, being promoted to Corporal in July 1880, Lance-Sergeant in February 1881, Sergeant-Major in the following month and Colour-Sergeant at the start of his service in Egypt in August 1882. And at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 September, he distinguished himself by rescuing a fellow N.C.O., Sergeant F. Smith, which bravery won him his D.C.M.
Reverting to the rank of Sergeant at his own request in late 1883, while stationed in Bermuda, Walkley found himself once more reduced to Private for 'making a false entry in his Ledger Account', an offence that cost him a further stretch in the cells and the forfeiture of his Good Conduct Badges and pay. Departing Bermuda for Halifax, Nova Scotia in late 1886, by which time he had climbed back to the rank of Corporal, he was re-engaged for further service with the Regiment in September 1887. Renewed effort witnessed his advancement back to Lance-Sergeant in July of the following year and to Sergeant in May 1889, but disaster struck on his transferral to the 2nd Battalion back home in the following year, when yet again he was arrested and court-martialled for 'drunkeness when employed as Provost-Sergeant', a sorry state of affairs that may have contributed to his final appearance before a Court-Martial in August 1892, again for drunkeness, when he was reduced to the ranks. The unfortunate Walkley, the holder of four Certificates of Education, was finally discharged in April 1897.
Private Charles Edmund Walkley, D.C.M., was born in Brixton, London and enlisted under the alias of 'Joseph Burges' into the 84th Foot, afterwards the York and Lancaster Regiment, in January 1876, aged 18 years - in a sworn declaration in February 1879, supported by his Certificate of Baptism, Walkley revealed his true identity. A promising start by way of advancement to Corporal in July 1877 and to Sergeant in April 1878 fell by the wayside in April 1879, when he was confined and reduced to Private for drunkeness and absence. Clearly rather a character, Walkley quickly regained his former N.C.O. status, being promoted to Corporal in July 1880, Lance-Sergeant in February 1881, Sergeant-Major in the following month and Colour-Sergeant at the start of his service in Egypt in August 1882. And at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 September, he distinguished himself by rescuing a fellow N.C.O., Sergeant F. Smith, which bravery won him his D.C.M.
Reverting to the rank of Sergeant at his own request in late 1883, while stationed in Bermuda, Walkley found himself once more reduced to Private for 'making a false entry in his Ledger Account', an offence that cost him a further stretch in the cells and the forfeiture of his Good Conduct Badges and pay. Departing Bermuda for Halifax, Nova Scotia in late 1886, by which time he had climbed back to the rank of Corporal, he was re-engaged for further service with the Regiment in September 1887. Renewed effort witnessed his advancement back to Lance-Sergeant in July of the following year and to Sergeant in May 1889, but disaster struck on his transferral to the 2nd Battalion back home in the following year, when yet again he was arrested and court-martialled for 'drunkeness when employed as Provost-Sergeant', a sorry state of affairs that may have contributed to his final appearance before a Court-Martial in August 1892, again for drunkeness, when he was reduced to the ranks. The unfortunate Walkley, the holder of four Certificates of Education, was finally discharged in April 1897.