Walter Walker (British Army officer) - Revision history

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	==Military career==		==Military career==
	Walker then went to the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], and in 1933 after a short attachment to the [[Sherwood Foresters]] he joined the 1/[[8th Gurkha Rifles]] in [[Quetta]] which his grandfather had formerly commanded.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news \|title=Obituary: General Sir Walter Walker \|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/gurkha-obituaries/1337219/General-Sir-Walter-Walker.html \|access-date=12 April 2022 \|work=Daily Telegraph \|date=13 August 2001 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530232551/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/gurkha-obituaries/1337219/General-Sir-Walter-Walker.html \|archive-date=30 May ~~2022~~}}</ref> In 1935 he survived the major earthquake that hit that city. The battalion moved to Assam in the aftermath where it remained until early 1939, Walker was appointed the battalion's adjutant in 1938.<ref>Pocock, pp. 20–41</ref>		Walker then went to the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], and in 1933 after a short attachment to the [[Sherwood Foresters]] he joined the 1/[[8th Gurkha Rifles]] in [[Quetta]] which his grandfather had formerly commanded.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news \|title=Obituary: General Sir Walter Walker \|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/gurkha-obituaries/1337219/General-Sir-Walter-Walker.html \|access-date=12 April 2022 \|work=Daily Telegraph \|date=13 August 2001 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530232551/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/gurkha-obituaries/1337219/General-Sir-Walter-Walker.html \|archive-date=30 May 2010}}</ref> In 1935 he survived the major earthquake that hit that city. The battalion moved to Assam in the aftermath where it remained until early 1939, Walker was appointed the battalion's adjutant in 1938.<ref>Pocock, pp. 20–41</ref>

	In 1939, Walker moved with his battalion across India to [[Razmak]], on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)\|North West Frontier]] facing [[Waziristan]], there had been turmoil on the Frontier since 1936, and operations were continuous, a mixture of defensive and offensive operations, some of them "punitive operations" against tribesman of the [[North-West Frontier (military history)\|North West Frontier]] in [[Empire of India\|India]].<ref name="Beckett, p. 193">Beckett, p. 193</ref> Walker distinguished himself and was recommended for the [[Military Cross]], he had come to senior officers' attention and was appointed staff captain at the [[Razmak Brigade]] headquarters. His attention to detail enabled him to excel in this role.<ref>Pocock pp. 42–51</ref> He was twice mentioned in dispatches for his role in the operations on the North West Frontier from 1939 to 1941.<ref name=Guardian>''The Guardian'' obituary, 14 August 2001</ref>		In 1939, Walker moved with his battalion across India to [[Razmak]], on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)\|North West Frontier]] facing [[Waziristan]], there had been turmoil on the Frontier since 1936, and operations were continuous, a mixture of defensive and offensive operations, some of them "punitive operations" against tribesman of the [[North-West Frontier (military history)\|North West Frontier]] in [[Empire of India\|India]].<ref name="Beckett, p. 193">Beckett, p. 193</ref> Walker distinguished himself and was recommended for the [[Military Cross]], he had come to senior officers' attention and was appointed staff captain at the [[Razmak Brigade]] headquarters. His attention to detail enabled him to excel in this role.<ref>Pocock pp. 42–51</ref> He was twice mentioned in dispatches for his role in the operations on the North West Frontier from 1939 to 1941.<ref name=Guardian>''The Guardian'' obituary, 14 August 2001</ref>
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	In 1957, he was promoted to Brigadier and commander of [[99th Gurkha Infantry Brigade]] Group in Malaya. This was the most demanding and important command in the Army with the task of finally defeating the most formidable remaining terrorists in Johore in Operation Tiger. Walker maintained an excellent relationship with police [[Special Branch]]; he took great pains in the development of intelligence, and made frequent use of ambushes. In Malaya, he demonstrated his mastery in ambush skills which he had initially learnt in Waziristan on India's North-West Frontier in 1939 to 1941.<ref>Charles Allen (1990) ''The Savage Wars of Peace,'' page 11</ref> He was recognised as a gifted trainer of troops, and had the gift of inspiring confidence and enthusiasm.<ref>Pocock, pp. 101–08</ref>		In 1957, he was promoted to Brigadier and commander of [[99th Gurkha Infantry Brigade]] Group in Malaya. This was the most demanding and important command in the Army with the task of finally defeating the most formidable remaining terrorists in Johore in Operation Tiger. Walker maintained an excellent relationship with police [[Special Branch]]; he took great pains in the development of intelligence, and made frequent use of ambushes. In Malaya, he demonstrated his mastery in ambush skills which he had initially learnt in Waziristan on India's North-West Frontier in 1939 to 1941.<ref>Charles Allen (1990) ''The Savage Wars of Peace,'' page 11</ref> He was recognised as a gifted trainer of troops, and had the gift of inspiring confidence and enthusiasm.<ref>Pocock, pp. 101–08</ref>

	In 1959, 99th Brigade was sent to Singapore in advance of the forthcoming elections. Walker was told to take charge of internal security throughout Singapore Island. The 99th Brigade were highly skilled jungle fighters, but urban Singapore was a very different environment, and internal security an entirely new assignment. Walker immediately instituted a typically thorough training programme. No manual existed on the subject, so Walker wrote one. ''Internal Security in a City'' became the army standard on the subject. The elections passed peacefully. {{Citation needed\|date=January ~~2022~~}} Walker relinquished command<ref name="Guardian"/> and attended the [[Royal College of Defence Studies\|Imperial Defence College]] in London. He was unimpressed by the politically tuned officers and considered that politics was the business of politicians not soldiers. After the course, in 1961, he was promoted to Major General and appointed General Officer Commanding [[17th Gurkha Division]] and Major General, [[Brigade of Gurkhas]]. 17 Division was the operational headquarters for all non-Malayan formations (99 Gurkha Infantry Brigade and 28 Commonwealth Brigade) and divisional units in Malaya.<ref>Pocock, pp. 109–10</ref>		In 1959, 99th Brigade was sent to Singapore in advance of the forthcoming elections. Walker was told to take charge of internal security throughout Singapore Island. The 99th Brigade were highly skilled jungle fighters, but urban Singapore was a very different environment, and internal security an entirely new assignment. Walker immediately instituted a typically thorough training programme. No manual existed on the subject, so Walker wrote one. ''Internal Security in a City'' became the army standard on the subject. The elections passed peacefully. {{Citation needed\|date=January 2010}} Walker relinquished command<ref name="Guardian"/> and attended the [[Royal College of Defence Studies\|Imperial Defence College]] in London. He was unimpressed by the politically tuned officers and considered that politics was the business of politicians not soldiers. After the course, in 1961, he was promoted to Major General and appointed General Officer Commanding [[17th Gurkha Division]] and Major General, [[Brigade of Gurkhas]]. 17 Division was the operational headquarters for all non-Malayan formations (99 Gurkha Infantry Brigade and 28 Commonwealth Brigade) and divisional units in Malaya.<ref>Pocock, pp. 109–10</ref>

	Rumours about the axing of the Gurkhas emerged and Walker played an astute hand involving the King of Nepal and the U.S. Ambassador there to protect them. It did not endear him to the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] and he came close to being sacked. However, on 8 December 1962, while he was in Nepal visiting Gurkha pensioners in the [[Himalayas]]<ref>Charles Allen (1990) ''The Savage Wars of Peace,'' page 68.</ref> and some days walk from transport, a revolt broke out in [[Brunei]]. Walker reached Singapore 9 days later.<ref>Pocock, pp. 114–35</ref>		Rumours about the axing of the Gurkhas emerged and Walker played an astute hand involving the King of Nepal and the U.S. Ambassador there to protect them. It did not endear him to the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] and he came close to being sacked. However, on 8 December 1962, while he was in Nepal visiting Gurkha pensioners in the [[Himalayas]]<ref>Charles Allen (1990) ''The Savage Wars of Peace,'' page 68.</ref> and some days walk from transport, a revolt broke out in [[Brunei]]. Walker reached Singapore 9 days later.<ref>Pocock, pp. 114–35</ref>

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{{Short description|British military officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Sir Walter Walker
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date ={{birth date|1912|11|11|df=yes}}
| death_date ={{death date and age|2001|08|12|1912|11|11|df=yes}}
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| birth_place = [[British India]]
| death_place =
| nickname =
| allegiance ={{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch ={{army|United Kingdom}}
| serviceyears = 1933–1972
| servicenumber = 380258
| rank =[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| unit =[[Sherwood Foresters]] 1/8th Gurkha Rifles
| commands =99th Gurkha Infantry Brigade [[17th Gurkha Division]] Commander British Troops [[Borneo]] [[Northern Command (United Kingdom)|Northern Command]] [[Allied Forces Northern Europe]]
| battles =[[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North West Frontier]] [[Second World War]] [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]]
| awards =[[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Distinguished Service Order]] & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]] [[Mentioned in Despatches]] - four times
}}

[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] '''Sir Walter Colyear Walker''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|KCB|CBE|DSO**}} (11 November 1912 – 12 August 2001) was a senior [[British Army]] officer who served as [[Allied Forces Northern Europe|Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe]] from 1969 until his retirement in 1972. He commanded the 4/8th Gurkhas Rifles against the Japanese Army in [[Burma]] during the [[Second World War]]. He commanded the 1/6 Gurkha Rifles from 1950 to 1953 and he commanded the 99th Gurkha Infantry Brigade Group from 1957 to 1959 during the [[Malayan Emergency]]. Walker was Director of Operations in [[Borneo]] from 1962 to 1965 during the [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation]]. In retirement, he attracted some controversy by publicising his views on the political situation in Britain during the mid 1970s.

==Early life==
Walker was born on a tea plantation in [[British India]] to a military family, one of four sons. At the end of the [[First World War]] Walker and his family moved back to Britain and he was sent to [[Blundell's School]] in [[Devon]].<ref name="Barker">[https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,536426,00.html Dennis Barker, 'General Sir Walter Walker', ''The Guardian'', 14 August 2001]</ref> Even as a child Walker had a militaristic streak; in his memoirs ''Fighting On'' he writes that he ordered the previously "idle, unpatriotic, unkempt" pupils into "showing the school what smartness on the parade ground meant". His teachers became alarmed at Walker's strict behaviour and tried to explain the difference between "driving" and "leading".<ref>Andy Beckett, ''Pinochet in Piccadilly. Britain and Chile's Hidden History'' (London: Faber and Faber, 2003), pp. 192–93</ref>

==Military career==
Walker then went to the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], and in 1933 after a short attachment to the [[Sherwood Foresters]] he joined the 1/[[8th Gurkha Rifles]] in [[Quetta]] which his grandfather had formerly commanded.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |title=Obituary: General Sir Walter Walker |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/gurkha-obituaries/1337219/General-Sir-Walter-Walker.html |access-date=12 April 2022 |work=Daily Telegraph |date=13 August 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530232551/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/gurkha-obituaries/1337219/General-Sir-Walter-Walker.html |archive-date=30 May 2022}}</ref> In 1935 he survived the major earthquake that hit that city. The battalion moved to Assam in the aftermath where it remained until early 1939, Walker was appointed the battalion's adjutant in 1938.<ref>Pocock, pp. 20–41</ref>

In 1939, Walker moved with his battalion across India to [[Razmak]], on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North West Frontier]] facing [[Waziristan]], there had been turmoil on the Frontier since 1936, and operations were continuous, a mixture of defensive and offensive operations, some of them "punitive operations" against tribesman of the [[North-West Frontier (military history)|North West Frontier]] in [[Empire of India|India]].<ref name="Beckett, p. 193">Beckett, p. 193</ref> Walker distinguished himself and was recommended for the [[Military Cross]], he had come to senior officers' attention and was appointed staff captain at the [[Razmak Brigade]] headquarters. His attention to detail enabled him to excel in this role.<ref>Pocock pp. 42–51</ref> He was twice mentioned in dispatches for his role in the operations on the North West Frontier from 1939 to 1941.<ref name=Guardian>''The Guardian'' obituary, 14 August 2001</ref>

In 1942, Walker was selected to attend the [[Staff College, Quetta|Staff College]] at Quetta. After this he was appointed General Staff Officer Grade 3 (GSO 3) on the staff of Lieutenant General Slim's [[Burma Corps]], joining them near the oil fields at Yenangyaung in mid April 1942. Walker remained with the HQ as it walked back to India, and was then appointed as an instructor at the Quetta staff college.<ref>Pocock, pp. 59–61</ref>

In early 1944, Walker was appointed second-in-command, alongside a new commanding officer, of the 4/8th Gurkha Rifles, who had suffered severely in the Arakan Campaign. In March the battalion was moved to the Imphal area where the Japanese had launched a major offensive and spent several months in hard fighting. In November he became the commanding officer, instigated a tough training regime and the battalion's motto – "Live Hard, Fight Hard, and when necessary Die Hard". Always a disciplinarian, he was a hard taskmaster and a totally professional soldier dedicated to hard training, and with his harsher characteristics balanced by integrity, generosity and warmth.<ref>Pocock, pp. 62–71</ref>

In early 1945 he led the 4/8th Gurkhas, part of [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]], across the River Irrawaddy and hard fighting against the main body of the Japanese Army in Burma. In June he was appointed GSO 1 in his division's (7 Indian Division) Headquarters, although circumstances dictated that he had to return part-time to 4/8th Gurkhas as their commanding officer again. A highly unusual situation. He was mentioned in dispatches and at the end of the war he was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO)<ref name="Telegraph"/> and [[7th Indian Infantry Division]] moved to occupy Thailand where Walker was involved in negotiating the surrender of Japanese forces in that country.<ref>Pocock, pp. 72–81</ref>

Walker's first post-war posting was as GSO 1 to the Director of Military Operations in General Headquarters (GHQ), Delhi. When GHQ was transferred to Indian control in 1948 he handed over to a future Indian Chief of Army Staff and was appointed GSO 1 in Malaya District Headquarters in [[Kuala Lumpur]].

In 1948, the Emergency was declared in Malaya. Walker's immediate role was to train and equip the irregular Ferret Force. In late 1948 he was appointed Commandant of the Far East Land Forces Training Centre in Johore Bahru with the task of training British units, arriving from UK, in jungle fighting. It later became the Jungle Warfare School at Kota Tinggi. He was appointed OBE for his work on Jungle warfare training.<ref name="Telegraph"/> He also highlighted the many deficiencies in equipment and neglect of the lessons learned in Burma. He then had his first posting to UK as a student at the Joint Services Staff College. In 1950 he was appointed to command 1/6 Gurkha Rifles. Walker created a very effective jungle fighting battalion with many notable successes, including killing high ranking communists, in the three years he was in command.<ref>Pocock, pp. 82–98</ref>

He was awarded a [[Medal bar|Bar]] to his DSO and was twice mentioned in dispatches during the Malayan Emergency.<ref name="Guardian"/> In 1954 he returned to the UK as a senior (Colonel) staff officer in Headquarters Eastern Command where he was involved in planning and mounting the Suez operation in 1956. He also expressed the view that if he had been commanding at [[Port Said]] he would have used a [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Nelsonian]] eye to signals from London telling him to stop. However, as an up-and-coming senior officer he was selected as an observer to [[British nuclear tests at Maralinga|nuclear tests]] in [[Maralinga]], Australia and subsequently lectures on nuclear battlefield.<ref>Pocock, pp. 99–100</ref>

In 1957, he was promoted to Brigadier and commander of [[99th Gurkha Infantry Brigade]] Group in Malaya. This was the most demanding and important command in the Army with the task of finally defeating the most formidable remaining terrorists in Johore in Operation Tiger. Walker maintained an excellent relationship with police [[Special Branch]]; he took great pains in the development of intelligence, and made frequent use of ambushes. In Malaya, he demonstrated his mastery in ambush skills which he had initially learnt in Waziristan on India's North-West Frontier in 1939 to 1941.<ref>Charles Allen (1990) ''The Savage Wars of Peace,'' page 11</ref> He was recognised as a gifted trainer of troops, and had the gift of inspiring confidence and enthusiasm.<ref>Pocock, pp. 101–08</ref>

In 1959, 99th Brigade was sent to Singapore in advance of the forthcoming elections. Walker was told to take charge of internal security throughout Singapore Island. The 99th Brigade were highly skilled jungle fighters, but urban Singapore was a very different environment, and internal security an entirely new assignment. Walker immediately instituted a typically thorough training programme. No manual existed on the subject, so Walker wrote one. ''Internal Security in a City'' became the army standard on the subject. The elections passed peacefully. {{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} Walker relinquished command<ref name="Guardian"/> and attended the [[Royal College of Defence Studies|Imperial Defence College]] in London. He was unimpressed by the politically tuned officers and considered that politics was the business of politicians not soldiers. After the course, in 1961, he was promoted to Major General and appointed General Officer Commanding [[17th Gurkha Division]] and Major General, [[Brigade of Gurkhas]]. 17 Division was the operational headquarters for all non-Malayan formations (99 Gurkha Infantry Brigade and 28 Commonwealth Brigade) and divisional units in Malaya.<ref>Pocock, pp. 109–10</ref>

Rumours about the axing of the Gurkhas emerged and Walker played an astute hand involving the King of Nepal and the U.S. Ambassador there to protect them. It did not endear him to the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] and he came close to being sacked. However, on 8 December 1962, while he was in Nepal visiting Gurkha pensioners in the [[Himalayas]]<ref>Charles Allen (1990) ''The Savage Wars of Peace,'' page 68.</ref> and some days walk from transport, a revolt broke out in [[Brunei]]. Walker reached Singapore 9 days later.<ref>Pocock, pp. 114–35</ref>

Walker was appointed COMBRITBOR on 19 December with command over all British forces (land, sea and air) in the colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo, and the protectorate of Brunei. The revolt was quickly mopped up and incipient revolts in Sarawak prevented by an influx of British and Gurkha troops. However, clues of Indonesian sympathy for the insurgents and emerging hostility caused Walker concern. The situation gradually evolved into the [[Konfrontasi|Confrontation]]. However, Walker was master of the situation and developed an effective operational concept and tactics to contain the threat, and most importantly retain the military initiative. The outcome was a successful campaign ending in August 1966. Walker handed over as commander in March 1965.<ref>Charles Allen (1990) ''The Savage Wars of Peace,'' page 95.</ref>
During the campaign he established good relations with the Labour Defence and Army ministers ([[Denis Healey]] and [[Fred Mulley]]).<ref>Pocock, pp. 136–217</ref> He was appointed [[Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath|CB]] and awarded a second bar to the DSO.<ref name="Guardian"/>

He returned to the UK and in 1965 was posted to [[NATO]] as Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Plans, Operations and Intelligence, Headquarters, [[Allied Forces Central Europe]] in Paris where his job was to plan and execute the headquarters' move out of France. He accomplished this complex task on time and very efficiently. Promoted and knighted in 1968<ref name="Telegraph"/> he was appointed General Officer Commanding in Chief of [[Northern Command (United Kingdom)|Northern Command]] in the UK from 1967.<ref name="Telegraph"/> Finally in 1969 he was promoted to General and appointed [[NATO]]'s Commander in Chief [[Allied Forces Northern Europe]] with headquarters in Oslo. This covered German Jutland, Denmark and Norway but had no direct command responsibilities in peacetime. Walker saw his role as publicising the threat. The region faced an overwhelming and expanding Soviet force and while he did not expect Soviet direct attack he did see a strategic threat of expanding influence aimed at neutralising the Nordic countries (and possibly beyond) and clearing the path into the North Atlantic. Pointing this out did not endear him to some politicians and even his NATO superior. He retired from the army in 1972.<ref>Pocock, pp. 222–271</ref> Walker was Colonel of 7th (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) Gurkha Rifles from 1964 to 1975.

Walker's granddaughter Annabel Venning has carried out extensive research into the war experience of Walter and his five siblings which have been published as ''To War with the Walkers ''[2019] Hodder and Stoughton, London.

==Politics==
Walker then began giving [[television]] interviews and then took part in a documentary named ''A Day in the Life of a General'', which was never aired for security reasons, but Walker believed it was banned because he was "revealing the true state of affairs which the politicians are hiding from the public".<ref>Beckett, pp. 194–95</ref>

By 1974, Walker had grown "shocked" by the state of the country in general and the "militancy" of the trade unions in particular. In July of that year he wrote a letter to ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' calling for "dynamic, invigorating, uplifting leadership... above party politics" to "save" the country from "the Communist Trojan horse in our midst." After the publication of the letter, Walker claimed he received positive responses from [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] Sir [[Varyl Begg]], [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]] Sir [[John Slessor]], a few British [[general]]s, ex-MPs, the [[comedian]] [[Michael Bentine]] and the shipping industrialist [[Cayzer baronets|Lord Cayzer]].<ref name="Beckett, p. 196">Beckett, p. 196</ref>

Shortly afterward, the ''[[London Evening News]]'' gave Walker a front-page interview and asked him if he could imagine a situation in which the [[British Army]] could take over Britain. Walker responded, "Perhaps the country might choose rule by the gun in preference to anarchy,"<ref name="Beckett, p. 196"/> although Walker always said he hated the idea of a [[military government]] in Britain.<ref name="Barker"/>

By August 1974, Walker had joined the anti-Communist Unison group (later renamed to [[Civil Assistance]]), which claimed that it would supply volunteers in the event of a [[general strike]].<ref>Beckett, p. 197</ref> Walker claimed it had at least 100,000 members, which led [[Defence Secretary]] [[Roy Mason]] to interrupt his holiday by condemning this "near fascist groundswell."<ref>Beckett, p. 198</ref> In 1975, Walker travelled to various boardrooms in the [[City of London]] in the hope of securing money and support.<ref>Beckett, pp. 199–200.</ref> After [[Margaret Thatcher]] was elected leader of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], Walker and [[Civil Assistance]] faded from the media; however, he still travelled abroad, including visits to [[Rhodesia]] and [[South Africa]].<ref>Beckett, p. 200</ref>

Walker privately told journalists that he thought [[Harold Wilson]] was a "proven Communist" and that there was a "Communist cell" in [[Downing Street]].<ref>David Leigh, ''The Wilson Plot. The Intelligence Services and the discrediting of a Prime Minister'', London: Heinemann, 1988, p. 221.</ref> He advocated [[Enoch Powell]] as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and favoured "tougher" measures against the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]]. He was an early member of the [[Conservative Monday Club]] and in 1984 became Patron of the ultra-conservative and anti-communist [[Western Goals Institute]], a position he retained for the rest of his life.

In 1980, his book ''The Next Domino?'', with a foreword by the Conservative politician [[Julian Amery]], was first published simultaneously in the UK, the US, and South Africa. In the 1980s, Walker's health began to decline and he underwent two hip operations in military hospitals. They left him permanently disabled which led to Walker suing the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in 1990. The suit was eventually settled out of court,<ref>Beckett, p. 201</ref> for £130,000.<ref name="Telegraph"/>

==Personal life==
Walker married Beryl Johnston in 1939 with whom had two sons and one daughter. He died on 12 August 2001.<ref name="Telegraph"/>

==Honour==
===Foreign honour===
* {{flagu|Malaysia}} : Honorary Commander of the [[Order of the Defender of the Realm]] (1965)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.istiadat.gov.my/v8/images/stories/1965.pdf|title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1965.}}</ref>

==Publications==
*''The Bear at the Back Door'', by General Sir Walter Walker, London, 1978.
*''The Next Domino?'', by General Sir Walter Walker, KCB, CBE, DSO, with a foreword by the Rt. Hon. Julian Amery, P.C., M.P. (1st edition, 1980, London, {{ISBN|0-85205-005-4}}; paperback revised edition published 20 August 1982, London).
*''Fighting On'', by General Sir Walter Walker, London, 1997.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Pocock |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Pocock |title=Fighting General: The Public & Private Campaigns of General Sir Walter Walker |year=1973 |edition=First |publisher=Collins |location=London |isbn=0-00-211295-7}}
*''Pinochet in Piccadilly: Britain and Chile's Hidden History'' by Andy Beckett (Faber and Faber, 2003) {{ISBN|0-571-21547-5}}
*''The Wilson Plot'' by David Leigh (Heineman, 1988) {{ISBN|0-434-41340-2}}
*[[Charles Allen (writer)|Allen, Charles]] (1990). ''The Savage Wars of Peace: Soldier's Voices 1945-1989''. London: Michael Joseph {{ISBN|978-0718128821}}.

==External links==
*[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=J13JMK23BFPHHQFIQMGCFGGAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2001/08/13/db01.xml&page=1 ''The Daily Telegraph'' obituary]{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*[https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,536426,00.html ''The Guardian'' obituary]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Robertson (British Army officer)|Jim Robertson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[17th Gurkha Division|GOC 17th Gurkha Division]]|years=1961–1964}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter Hunt (British Army officer)|Peter Hunt]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Geoffrey Musson|Sir Geoffrey Musson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Northern Command (United Kingdom)|GOC-in-C Northern Command]]|years=1967–1969}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Cecil Blacker|Sir Cecil Blacker]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Kenneth Darling|Sir Kenneth Darling]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Allied Forces Northern Europe|C-in-C Allied Forces Northern Europe]]|years=1969–1972}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Thomas Pearson (British Army officer, born 1914)|Sir Thomas Pearson]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Walter}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at Blundell's School]]
[[Category:British Army generals]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Malayan Emergency]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Sherwood Foresters officers]]
[[Category:Military personnel of British India]]
[[Category:British people in colonial India]]