Pier Head Memorial Service to Honour WWII Naval Hero Captain Johnnie Walker

Big Heritage will host a memorial service to honour Captain Frederic John “Johnnie” Walker at 11am on Thursday 9th July at his statue located on Liverpool’s Pier Head.

The annual service will this year mark 82 years since Captain Walker passed away in 1944 and honours his incredible contributions to Britain’s naval efforts during the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest sea campaign in the Second World War.

Captain Walker was one of the Royal Navy’s most successful anti-submarine commanders. His development of tactics and techniques to protect vital convoy routes through the Atlantic helped shape modern anti-submarine warfare, and he is widely recognised as a key figure in securing Allied success at sea.

In attendance at the service will be several prominent figures who will lay wreaths in his honour, including Councillor William Shortall, Lord Mayor of Liverpool; Commander Richard Fletcher of HMS Eaglet; and Lord Derby, Edward Stanley, representing the Lord Lieutenant.

In addition, they will be joined by Captain Walker’s granddaughter, Jane Hedger, as well as Big Heritage employees, including CEO Dean Paton.

The Royal Northern College of Music will provide a trumpeter for the service to play the opening notes of the Last Post, while flag bearers will also provide their services.

Dean Paton, CEO of Big Heritage, said: “Captain Johnnie Walker’s leadership and bravery played a critical role in protecting the lifeline of Britain during the Second World War.

“This annual service is an important opportunity to reflect on his legacy, honour his achievements and ensure that future generations understand the significance of the Battle of the Atlantic and those who fought in it.”

Captain Walker’s granddaughter, Jane, added: “My grandfather’s memorial is an event of mixed emotions. It fills me with pride but is also tinged with sadness.

“He died almost 25 years before I was born, at the age of just 48. For me it is the meeting point of history and family and connecting with the grandfather I never knew. We’re not just honouring one person but remembering everyone who was a part of the war. Captain Walker was my grandfather but everyone will have a relative or a connection to somebody else who was involved. Their actions and the sacrifices they made have profoundly impacted our lives.

“Memorial services matter because they remind us that history is made by ordinary people who are asked to do extraordinary things. They are not only about looking back but about understanding the values that carried people through difficult times through duty, courage, service and a willingness to put others before themselves.

“I am enormously proud of my Grandfather, proud of what he achieved, grateful for what he did but wishing I could have met the man behind the medals and the memorial. He showed that one person, through commitment, courage and service, can make a difference far beyond their own lifetime. The freedoms we enjoy today were shaped by the efforts of people like him. To know that he played a part in that and that people still remember him more than eighty years later fills me with gratitude as much as pride.”

Members of the public are welcome to attend to show their respects. Attendees are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before the service begins, at Captain Walker’s statue on Liverpool’s Pier Head.

For more information, visit the Western Approaches website (liverpoolwarmuseum.co.uk) or the Battle of the Atlantic museum website (battleoftheatlantic.org).