Born in 1897 at Acton, son of Sidney Milroy (Carriage Agent) and Helen Jakins. Educated at Lindisfarne College Westcliff and Bancroft’s School. His father died in 1914, and Walter lived at “The Lawns” Snakes Lane, Woodford Green with his widowed mother and sister Kathleen. Musically gifted, he enjoyed sitting in Woodford Union Church listening to the organ. He had a great interest in aviation, editing a magazine on the subject while still at school. His Probate shows he later lived at 22 Ulster Place, Regents Park. After the war his mother was living at 13 Manor Road, Bishops Stortford.
He joined the Army 26th November 1915, trained as a Dispatch Rider with the Royal Engineers, and was promoted to Corporal in December 1915. In October 1916 he became a Cadet with the Royal Flying Corps, Commissioned in February 1917 via Lincoln College Oxford, he gained his wings on 10th May 1917. The Woodford Times remarks that he did a lot of good work teaching Officers to fly, indicating he was an Instructor with 54 (Training) Squadron.
On 10th July 1917 with Lt. D.D. Lockwood, he had left the 38 (Home Defence) Squadron landing ground at Buckminster, Lincolnshire in Sopwith 1.5 Inch Strutter A8203. The engine failed shortly after, and when Jakins tried to turn downwind, the aircraft side slipped and nosedived to earth, killing him and slightly injuring Lockwood.
His Military funeral at Woodford Union Church and burial at Chingford Mount Cemetery were reported in the Woodford Times for 20th July 1917. His coffin was placed on an aircraft carriage and drawn by a lorry, led by a band of fifes and drums. At the service the hymn “Strong Son of God” was sung, which had been a great favourite of his as a child. Rifle fire and the last post sounded out over his grave at Chingford Mount. Rev. F.G. Lintern recalled that as a boy Walter “loved flying and had a passion for moving in the boundless.”
He is also remembered at Great Dunmow Congregational Church, and on the Bishops Stortford War Memorial.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Woodford Times
RFC Crash Card
For more information on this individual please see The Old Bancroftian website.