Rowland Walker

Rowland Walker (1876-1947)

Rowland Walker is an almost forgotten author today, yet in his day he was very successful; one of the few authors to tell his stories on radio, and the possibility of turning some of his books into films. Like many authors, including T.C. Bridges, and the Westermans, both father and son, the quality of his work was variable, but always good; at his best he could surpass both W.E. Johns and George E. Rochester in stories of the Royal Flying Corps. (see Reviews)

It's very difficult to get any information on him, and although he sometimes gave information in the dedications of some of his books, it doesn't provide us with much assistance.  The known facts are these:-

Born Herbert Rowland Walker on 5th December, 1876, at Greetland , Yorkshire; youngest son of James William Walker, a Police Sergeant, and Eliza. He was baptised on 13th July, 1877. In his excellent re-telling of the Robin Hood legends, he tells us that  as a boy he lived in an old farmhouse among the Yorkshire Dales, not far from Kirklees Abbey. "I was the youngest of seven brothers, and night after night by the great kitchen fire, or after I had been tucked up in bed, my big brothers told me over and over again, at my own request, many of the wonderful adventures of Robin Hood.  One day , my brothers took me for a long walk over the hill-top and down into the next valley, to visit the ruins of Kirklees Abbey, the old Cistercian Nunnery, where Robin Hood lies buried". The family later moved to 27 Spring Street, Ripponden; and on leaving school  our future author found employment as a Silk Finisher.

In 1904 he married Margaret May (born 1875), daughter of Robert and Susannah Fowler of Clapton, London.  The couple set up home at 1 Buccleugh Cottages, Spring Hill, Clapton. In 1907, the first of their two daughters was born, whom they named Kathleen Tewson Walker; within two years, the family had moved to a house named 'Rybourne', in Rosslyn Avenue, East Barnet, Herts, where a second daughter was born in 1909, named Mary Vernon Walker. He worked as an accountant for a religious organisation: it was in this same year (1909) that he had his first book published, titled 'The Romance of an Old Manor House', it was published in November of that year by Robert Culley.  This adult novel follows the adventures of Jack Ryedale, who lives in a 500 year old manor house in the West Riding of Yorkshire.  It begins with young Jack being sent to Campion Hall to be educated by Dr. Campion, an old family friend. However, Jack does not complete his schooling.  Jack's father loses all his money, and the house is heavily mortgaged. Jack is forced to leave school and help his elder brother on the family farm.  Farm life does not suit him; with the assistance of Dr. Campion he obtains a position in the office of a London merchant. The book gives a good description of the highs and lows of Edwardian London.  Through applying himself Jack is promoted and eventually is made a partner in the firm of Fitzwilliam & Wortley. The profits increase year by year, and after seven years of struggle he manages to save £5,000 to pay off the mortgage of the old manor house, 1 day before it was due to be re-possessed.  He returns home with the good news and his bride Kathleen, Dr. Campion's niece.

It appears he preferred to be known by his second name of Rowland, rather than Herbert, as appears in this official signature, in which he signs himself 'H. Rowland Walker', and below that, is his signature from one of his books. 32 years separate these signatures.

His next book, which was aimed at the juvenile market was 'The Treasure Galleon. A tale of the sea-dog days', it contained 8 full page plates, and was published by George Routledge in 1912; this was followed the following year by 'Under Wolfe's Flag'. These historical novels were popular in the Victorian and Edwardian period; but just a year later, Britain was involved in WW1, and a new type of literature was required.

His next story  'Buckle of Submarine V2'; appeared in the 1914-15 volume of 'Young England, before being published in book form in 1916. The book so well describes life aboard a submarine, that one wonders, in the abscence of viewing his service record, if the author , like Percy F. Westerman, served in the Royal Navy, before being transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, or whether he went straight into that service. The book was dedicated to Norman Douglas Holbrook, V.C., R.N.   Walker used a real life incident in his book, performed by Holbrook, that of taking a submarine through a minefield. It was this action in 1914 that earned Holbrook the Victoria Cross. Also published in the same year was 'Oscar Danby, V.C.'  

Walker was one of the first servicemen to write flying stories; his 'Dastral of the Flying Corps', appearing in 1918. Books by other authors had appeared; 'Burton of the Flying Corps' (1916), and 'Lords of the Air' (1918), by Herbert Hayens. The difference being that Strang and Hayens were most likely writing from research, rather than personal experience, as the two authors who made up the pen-name Herbert Strang, were born in the 1860s, as was Herbert Hayens, and so, too old for military service. His next novel 'Blake of the Merchant Service', appeared in 1918.

Walker's next novel is amongst his best 'Deville McKeene, the British Ace', appeared in 1919. The book was dedicated to his Commanding Officer, Major Edgar James Bannatyne D.S.O; and this, along with his later 'Death Flies High (1936), which he dedicated to another Commanding Officer, Philip Bennett Joubert de la Ferte, who had a distinguished career in both World Wars' : together, they give us a clue as to the author's WW1 service. The common factor being that at some time, both Bannatyne and de la Ferte served in number 17 Squadron, R.F.C.  Bannatyne went to Egypt as a Flight Commander in the Darfur Expedition. In June 1917, he was transferred to number 38 Training Squadron, R.F.C, at Rendecombe. On the 30th August, 1917, his machine caught fire; he managed to avoid houses and a church, and brought it to the ground, and jumped clear, being badly burnt, and injured. He died on the 11th September at Cirencester Hospital: Tetanus was the cause of death. Walker, who witnessed the incident, described it as one of the bravest deeds of the Great War. The book was well received; the 'Western Daily Press' thought it would have a special interest to those who knew war flying from experience. (see Reviews page) For some unknown reason, subsequent editions had the sub title changed from 'The British Ace' to 'The Mystery Airman'. Much of Walker's tales of the R.F.C. focus on the spy system, such as 'When Spy Meets Spy', and 'Dog-Fight Frazer', which involved the dropping of a British Secret Service man behind the German lines by aeroplane. These daring and resourceful men linked up with their agents behind the German front, then they were picked up again by some daredevil British airman, often after nightfall, and speedily brought back to British H.Q. with their news.

Interviewed at the time of publication of 'Dog-Fight Frazer', about the subject of his story, the author said - "I have always considered that this was the most daring task undertaken during the war. If the machine crashed while attempting a landing in almost unknown territory after dark, far behind the German lines, or any ambush was laid in a suspected spot, it meant a speedy death before a firing squad for both the pilot and the spy.  I have seen brave men turn pale when their names were suggested for this particular job .... but I never knew one single airman beg to be excused.  It will never be known, to the public at least, how many of our young airmen died in this manner".

Air Force records available for public viewing give very little information; there are only 2 people listed with the initials H.R. Walker; one is Horace Ronald, born 1900: as these records are meant to be a complete list of all personel, then I am assuming that the only other H.R. Walker is our author. The scant details it gives are as follows.  Walker. H.R. Service number: R.F.C.  4548. Entered service April 10th, 1915. Rank: Air Mechanic 2nd Class, promoted May 1st, 1916 to Air Mechanic 1st Class.  No other details. He appears in the R.A.F. Muster Roll of 1918; but had left the service by 1919.  Both, authors, W.E. Johns, and George E. Rochester, appear in the monthly Air Force list for February,1919. The only other clue as to Rowland Walker's service is another book, which he dedicated to his Adjutant, Wilfrid (Wilfred) Theodore Blake.  Blake wrote two books about the 1st World War, under the pen name of  'Wing Adjutant':  'The Royal Flying Corps in the War' (1918), and  'Plane Tales from the Skies' (Tales of dog-fights over the trenches) (1918).

In 1919, Walker began writing a political column in 'The Sunday Post', published by D.C Thompson; which was highly critical of the government, as shown by his article of 31st August, 1919, in which he criticised Parliament for taking a 60 day holiday, when the country was just recovering from the ending of the war. He wrote 'If Britain is to win the peace and re-establish herself quickly, at least a dozen problems need to be faced and solved with the utmost skill and expediency'.  He ends his article 'The time is not ripe for a two months vacation. This is no time to put up the shutters. Let us say to our M.P.'s :- "We appreciate the work you have done, we know you are tired and jaded, and that you sadly need a rest, but the time is not yet. Here are thrice ten thousand men who have waded in mud and blood for four years, and they ask not for a holiday, but for work. You are their representatives, and you must not ask them to wait. Take the shutters down now, please, and carry on until you have put things right".

In November 1919, the 'Sunday Post' began publishing the serial 'The Exploits of Captain McKeene'.  Four years later, he wrote 'The Exploits of John McKeene, Criminologist', which appeared in  'The Weekly Freeman', published in Dublin. On September 20th 1924, 'The Aukland Star' announced that they obtained the rights to publish this latter serial, commencing with the September 27th issue, and in November the 'Chronicle', published in Adelaide, South Australia, began publishing it.

'The Phantom Airman' (1920), a first rate adventure story, is set in the Middle East after the war. Commmencing just after the Armistice, a German air ace Heinrich von Spitzer, doesn't accept the surrender of Germany, and wants the war to continue.

Walker wasn't confined to war stories; he wrote many adventures where an airship was the mode of travel to visit remote areas of the globe, or search for lost cities. In 1921 appeared the first of many school stories that he wrote, 'Pickles of the Lower Fifth'.  One story is worthy of mention, 'The Rival Schools'; (1924), this is of the standard that one expected from Gunby Hadath. It got very good reviews (see Reviews page), with the Harrogate Advertiser commenting  'This romance will make a splendid present from fathers to sons, though we fear the latter will have to wait until father has read it himself'.

In 1928 appeared his 'Stories of British History', which was used for teaching in some schools. It remained in print for many years. The author tells us in the preface that he read the stories to his own children, before reading them on radio. I have managed to trace some of these broadcasts.  No doubt there are others, and these will be added, if and when they are found. (see Bibliography page).

According to the 'Author's and Writer's Who's Who' 1934, Walker also contributed to Sunday Pictorial, Sunday Mercury, and in America, to Home Life, Ambition, and Young People's Paper. It gives his recreation as walking. 'Who's Who in Literature'  1927 edition, says  'Several works prepared for the cinema in U.S.A'. I haven't been able to discover whether anything reached the screen, either under his own name, or  Hugh Kenworthy. It also states 'Wrote many leading articles on political situation and topical questions in London and provincial journals.  Among the books written by him it includes ' Children of the Dawn' and 'Greek Fairy Tales', both published by Ernest Nister in 1914. I haven't been able to find these editions, to learn whether Walker was writer, editor, or contributor. According to Lofts and Adley, Walker also used the pen-name Anthony Blair; I haven't been able to find anything under this name, or any other source for this statement. Bill Lofts told me in personal correspondence that he interviewed most of the people who were entered in M.B.B.F; but as his career started in the early 1950s, and Walker was deceased by then,  this did not come from personal information.

In 1939 Britain was again involved in a World War, and Rowland Walker wrote an excellent series of books, which chronicle events of the different services; they contain actual names of those involved, and dates of operations.  Walker was much more informed about the Supermarine Spitfire than W.E. Johns, who re-wrote WW1 tales, giving them a 2nd World War setting. The titles of this period are:-  Wings over the Atlantic: A tale of Coastal Command (1941), Commando Captain (1942), Spitfires Up (1942), M.T.B. Captain (1943), Spitfires over Malta (1944).

Rowland Walker's last book 'Hurricane Pilot', was published in 1947, just weeks before his death, which happened suddenly  on 30th December, at Horton House, 50 East Street, Alford Lincolnshire. A notice of his death was placed in the Personal column of 'The Times'.  Probate was granted to his widow, Margaret May Walker, on 24th March, 1948; his effects were valued at £171. 11s.2d.

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     Robert D. Crewdson