GRID REF: NY52201 64487 Postcode CA8 2DH
St Mary's Church, Walton
Walton is a village and civil parish in the far north of Cumbria. It is located 10 miles (16 km) from Carlisle and is about 2 miles (3 km) north of Brampton, on the north bank of the River Irthing. Nearby villages include Newtown, Banks and Lanercost.
Walton remains an unspoiled part of England and has an historic background. The course of Hadrian's Wall skirts the village to its south, and the ancient Priory of Lanercost is just a short distance away.
Within the small church of St Mary’s we find this simple brass plaque which commemorates three young men of the village who lost their lives to war during the 20th century. Many more from the surrounding area also served, and returned to take up their lives again in this scenic little part of England
Those commemorated here are;-
Cpl Walter Dodd, who was 24 years old when he died in battle on 31st July 1917 while serving with 7th Bn King’s Royal Lancashire Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial to the Missing, in Ypres. His name appears on Panel 72.
Walter was the son of Edward and Annie Dodd, of Whitehill, Walton.
Pte Henry James Armstrong, 32 years of age on his death in action on 22nd Sept 1917, was a driver with the Army Service Corp attached to a Heavy Artillery Battery. He is interred in Bedford House Cemetery, in grave 21.F.3. His parents, John and Jane Armstrong, lived at Moor House, Walton. Henry had lived, with his wife Elizabeth, at Shotleyfield, Shotley Bridge, Co Durham, until he enlisted. Henry was a chauffeur in peacetime and had been driving an Army truck when he was killed. It is said that he had offered to relieve the regular driver.
Like many rural churchyards there are references on family gravestones here at Walton to sons and husbands who fell in battle and lie far from home.
This is the family grave of Henry James Armstrong
The third casualty named here lost his life on the infamous Burma railway during the Second World War.
Pte John Waugh died on 1st May 1944 at the age of 38 while serving with 4th Bn Border Regiment. He was the son of Frank and Margaret Waugh, and husband of Jesse Raff Waugh, of Brampton. John has no known grave and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial to the Missing, on Face 14.
