Alexander Walkinshaw, D.C.M

A photo I haven't seen before of Evelyn Wood's funeral at Aldershot on 6 December 1919. Supporters carrying his sword, hat, medals and saddle. On the left (with quite a few medals of his own) is a Mr Walkinshaw who is said to have been Wood's bugler during the AZW.

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Steve

Steve,

Alexander Walkinshaw, D.C.M., was mostly certainly Wood’s bugler during the campaign.  D.C.M. for his actions at the Battle of Zlobane.

A few years back I had the honour to take his descendants to see Wood’s house in Old Harlow. Where Walkinshaw was retained as his man-servant after he left the Army.

JY

Hi Stephen
Excellent photo , Walkinshaw was Wood's Bugler during the AZW , Wood sent Walkinshaw to go back and get the Bible from Wood's horse which had been shot at Hlobane , this was so Wood could say some words whilst they were burying Campbell & Lloyd , Wood nominated him for an award , Walkinshaw eventually received The Silver Medal for Distinguished conduct in the field .
90th

Our posts crossed JY .
90th

Hi all!
Some might remember me from the rourkes drift board! I’m Sir Evelyn Woods butler Alexander Walkinshaws great great granddaughter.
I want to thank rusteze for finding that image...we don’t have that one! I was shocked when I came across this board and where he was mentioned and stumble across it.
He is truly loved in our family. He died in france in 1927. He moved there after Sir Evelyn Wood died, obviously as this was his wife’s native country. Not sure if many know on here, but he married one of Empress Eugénies maids after they met on that pilgrimage to South Africa to see where The prince imprerial was buried.
I’m so tempted to send off all these details to the BBC, it would make an amazing romantic historical drama! He did so much in his life.
Sir Evelyn Wood was such an impact on his life that Alexander named his only child Evelyn. This name was then given to my great aunt and then down to my Auntie and now lies with my cousin.
I have some images of Alexander that I will post.
I’m very sad that we don’t have his medals, after dying in France his wife must have kept them, then his son died 2 years after him. We won’t know what happened to them unless a collector some day traces us! Which is obviously unlikely.
If anyone has anymore images of him I would greatly appreciate it
Sarah

And also, hi John Young!
Yes my Dads cousin Tom and his wife Mary were the defendants you took to Woods home.
Unfortunately Tom and Mary passed a couple of years ago. A year or two apart from eachother. They never lived to know what became of Alexander after all the work they put into him and finding out everything they could about him....
Here he is as a young man;
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Hi Sarah

Welcome to the forum.

The Newspapers of the times, reported that Alexander was going to America, so he ended up in France.

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Chelmsford Chronicle 20 February 1920

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Aberdeen Press and Journal 17 February 1920

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Dundee Evening Telegraph 13 February 1920

Birth 1st April 1855 • Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Gaika War 1878 • South Africa age 23

Battle of Inhoblane (Zulu War) age 24
1879 March • South Africa
Won the DCM medal for his actions in risking his own life to retrieve the prayer book under fire

Utrecht
May 1879

Went on the pilgramage to South Africa with Empress Eugenie
March 1880 age 25
Met his future wifre who was the 1 French maid of Empress Eugenies, took all of the party to the spot where Prince Louis Bonapart was killed

Returned from trip with Empress Eugenie
27 July 1880 • Southampton, Hampshire, England

Boar War age 26
14 Jan 1881 • Sailed to South Africa


Returned to Chatham age 26
4th Feb 1882 • Chatham, Kent

Windsor Castle age 27
13th May 1882 • Windsor Castle
Given his DCM medal by Queen Victoria for his actions in Hlobane

Travelled to Egypt age 27
4th August 1882
(If anyone happens to know what for i would be grateful)

Returned to Chatham
3rd November 1882

Helping to nurse sick with Cholera age 28
July 1883 • Egypt

Back in England
August 1883

Jan 1884 • Egypt age 29
Gordon of Khartoum gave his evening cloak to Alexander stating he wouldnt need it anymore.

Gakdul
1885 • Gakdul on the Nile age 30
(I think went to go and find Gordon of Khartoum, he was part of the rescue party?)

Living in Colchester
1886

Marriage age 32
15th June 1887 • Colchester, Essex, England
Euphemie Félicité Rottreau (1857–)

Birth of Son Evelyn Georges Alexandre Walkinshaw(1888–1928)
01/01/1888 • Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France
1888

Cadiz age 34
1889
(Again if anyone knows what he was here for, i would be able to fill in the blanks!)

Residence age 36
1891 • Farnborough, Hampshire, England

Sudan age 41
1896
(blanks please?)

Residence age 46
1901 • St Marylebone, London, England

Residence age 56
02 Apr 1911 • St Marylebone, London, England

Death of Sir Evelyn Wood
2 Dec 1919 age 64
Alexander was Woods Valet for many years after his death. He was in Woods service for 42 years. Alexander respected him so much he named his only child after him. Before Wood died he called him to come and visit him. He thanked him for saving his life many times and thought of him more of a friend than a valet. He left £300 in 1919 to him.

Alexander Walkinshaw Death certificate
Death age 72
1927 • Neuvy-le-Roi, Indre-et-Loire, France

As this is now a page for him. I thought i would fill out his life timeline! Probably doesnt do it justice. But this man certainly travelled and lived his life to the fullest.

Hi Sarah,

I have sent you a pm by-the-way.

In answer to your query about Egypt in 1882. Wood commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division in the campaign against Arabi Pasha. The campaign would lead to British control of Suez Canal. The 2nd Brigade did not take part in any other major actions of the campaign, and were given as Wood would bemoan the less than arduous task of guarding the port of Alexandria.

Regards,

John

Hi John,

Yes i have just replied! Thank you.

So in summary, wherever Wood travelled, Alexander was with him. That's really interesting. Thank you for that information! I seem to find out new things about him all the time.

I am very thankful for that photo, we never knew that existed and its another one we are printing off and framing. Will be the last photo we have of him.

Sarah

Do we know if Alexander Walkinshaw, D.C.M attended the funeral.

Yes he did indeed.
I believe he is helping carrying the coffin (in that image of the video, i believe he's the 3rd from the left) i think this is him because he looks like my Dad from behind!

Also that image that was posted at the beginning of the thread is from Sir Evelyn Wood's funeral.

In the footage there is a man walking behind the coffin that has a top hat and 5 medals on his chest that matches the first image.

I think it was mentioned how he carried the medals during part of the funeral

Sarah / Les thanks.

One more question do we know where Alexander Walkinshaw, D.C.M is laid to rest.

Sarah / Littlehand..

Yes! That's him, i hope you all agree. If we didn't have the image from the funeral of his top hat, coat and medals on him, i don't think i would have realised that was him. Thank you for that!

I don't, that's something we haven't found out yet. I would be somewhere in France though i imagine. And i think a collector would have his medals too, if they didn't get lost of course.

Sarah I think I have found some old correspondence from you to someone else. I found he died in La Marsaudiere. So I'll have alook for cementeries in that area.

And as you mentioned he married one of Empress Eugeni maids, her name was Euphemie Rottreau.

Hi Littlehand!

Yes I have spoken about this on other forums. Any information I can get!
I have added where he died.
If you can find his resting place I would be overwhelmed and a trip there would be needed to pay our respects to this amazing man.
Neuvy-le-Roi, Indre-et-Loire
In 1927
Loire is where Euphemie was born so it would make sense that it was the area they “retired” to

The hunt is well and truly on.

Hi Sarah,
Firstly, welcome to the forum.
The name Walkinshaw rings bells with me as a trooper Walkinshaw served for a time in the NMP. I seem to remember that he had a father in the clergy. Was he related to Alexander?
Another question : In what capacity did Alexander participate in the tour of Zululand by Princess Eugenie?

regards

barry

PS ; I know that the Princess"s two maids were quite a "turn on" for the young lads who formed their escort detail for the tour

Welcome Sarah , outstanding posts from those involved .
Hi Barry
As Walkinshaw was Wood's '' Servant '' , I assume that's why he went with Eugenie , as Wood was in charge of the expedition.
cheers 90th

Yes the 90th is right.
Alexander was Woods bugler and after the Zulu War he was so impressed by his actions he asked for Alexander to join him on the trip. I did read in one book that “Walkinshaw took it upon himself to fall in love with one of the Empress’s maids”
How they communicated I don’t know!
Euphemie couldn’t read and write, therefore wouldn’t have spoken English when they first met and Alexander was Scottish...probably a bit hard to talk to eachother!
Another thing that’s interesting is that he first met her in 1880, but they didn’t marry until 1887...so they stayed in contact. It’s fasinating to me!

Barry where did you read that? I know it was a party of 80 people that went on this trip. So they wouldn’t have been the only women. But maybe the only young women. We don’t have a photo of her, which surprises me considering how many we have of Alexander. I would have loved to have seen one. Their son Evelyn didn’t look much like Alexander so we can only assume he looked more like his mother. We only had one photo of Evelyn Walkinshaw.

If we ever find our French family, maybe they might have some! Can only wish! Also i wonder if there were any images of the Pilgrimage...probably unlikely due to the nature of the trip itself. But it does make you wonder.

Thank you all for the welcome! I look forward to finding out more, I’m sure it will crop up!

Hi Barry
When was the Walkinshaw Chap in the NMP ? , I couldn't find his name on the Rolls for the AZW .
90th

Oh yes forgot to reply to that.
I don’t know, he could be. But he’s not a direct realation of mine. The name Walkinshaw died out with his son as Evelyn Walkinshaw had 3 girls. Although one of them never married...another Evelyn Walkinshaw! So actually in was lost in 2001 when she passed away.
But no males that I know of.
If they are a relation it would be a sibling of Alexander’s I would imagine or his Fathers family

Sarah
Ian Knight covers the Empress Eugenie Expedition in some detail in his book ' With His Face To The Foe '
90th

Hi 90th
I think I did pick that one up actually. May have to re read that one again. I don’t remember anything jumping out at me though. It was for 4 months I believe. Thank you though!

Hi Sarah
Walkinshaw is mentioned 3 times , but no mention of his wife to be . It gives more detail on the structure and make up of the party .
90th

Thank you 90th
I would like to know more about her. But it’s probably unlikely .
Would really like to know how she became the Empress’s lady in waiting. Very interesting

She must have been with Eugenie at the time of the 1881 census, but I am not certain the household had moved to Farnborough Hill by then or were still at Camden Place. Interestingly. Eugenie herself was at Windsor on the day of the census and appears on page 1 together with the Queen! But no sign of an entourage with her. Glad you liked the original picture.

Steve Reinstadtler

That is interesting. She’s only on one census in the UK. I have a feeling she moved lived in France most of the time while Alexander worked. From the information we know she was extremely close to her sister.

Can I ask how you found the photo Steve?

I wanted to check as there was a family rumour that Alexander’s medals were destroyed in the blitz. We aren’t completely sure this is true as the information was passed down by my Grandmother (Alexander’s granddaughter) and she had a tendency to exaggerate and fib now and again to make things seem more dramatic. She was the one who told us Alexander moved to Australia and we would never find him. Which if she had his medals in the war, she would have known. So things aren’t fitting.

Is there any way that medals can be traced? Knowing of course his name and what battle he got the DCM in.

Thank you all in advance, you’ve been brilliant!

Sarah,

There is a file in the National Archives at Kew (contents are NOT downloadable). You would have to visit. This file is most likely to contain the recommendation for the DCM. Reference WO32/7834.

Thank you Kenny.

I've visited Kew once, but it was for the records on my grandfather in world war 2.

Sorry for my poor knowledge on the subject, but is the recommendation how he got his medal?

Sarah

The photograph was posted on an Aldershot history group site on Facebook - no source but I suspect it was from a local newspaper. I have looked again at the 1881 census and can find no trace of Euphemie. By then Eugenie's head of stafff (Uhlmann) was living in Farnborough so the household should be there. In your list of dates you ask why Alexander went to Egypt in 1882 - that was the first Egyptian War and Evelyn Wood was there. Alexander is wearing the medal and Khedives Star in his photo, next to his Zulu War medal. Final thought, have you read "Ladies in the Veldt"by Brian Roberts - Alexander gets a mention in that too.

Steve Reinstadtler

Thank you Steve.

Yes i recall that he received that medal from someone who was able to distinguish it from a photograph. It's ringing bells now.

I'm trying to remember if that book was one of the ones i couldn't find.
I know there were a few i couldn't get my hands on a few years ago.
It possibly could have been the one that stated 'He took it upon himself to fall in love with one of the Empress's maids'

I took many trips to local libraries to rent some of these, one was gifted to me as Alexander was mentioned in it and it hadn't been rented in years.
I also have Brave Mens Blood by Ian Knight

Has any member got access to the passenger list for The Union Steamship  Company's  German, that set sail from Southampton  on  25th March 1880. The German then docked in Cape Town on 16th April.

"Ladies in the Veldt" by Brian Roberts".... Steve could you not just scan the
mention from the book, and post it, so other's might see it.

Yes Les I could have, but someone with a particular interest in the events it describes might well want to read the book and not just have a passing reference. My initial object was to ask whether Sarah had already read it, in which case I need not have said more.  As with Ian Knight's book, unfortunately, there is no mention of Euphemie. But used copies are readily available on ABE for as little as 74 pence.
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=&an=brian%20roberts&tn=ladies%20veld&n=100121503&cm_sp=mbc-_-ats-_-used

Steve

Pete

Passenger lists from Southampton only start in 1890 on Ancestry so too late for you. Funnily enough there are some arrivals in Cape Town for SS German, but I cannot get full access without world wide membership (costs an arm and a leg). But there are some names - do you know who you are looking for?

Steve

That’s great! Thank you Steve I will look into that, at 73p it seems to be worth it! I appreciate that!

Admin,

I could not find a passenger list for the Union Steamship German, but when the Empress Eugenie sailed from England for South Africa in March 1880 the newspapers listed her and those accompanying her.

Empress Eugenie, travelling incognito as the Comtess de Pierrefonds
Hon. Mrs. Ronald Campbell
Sir Evelyn and Lady Wood
The Marquis of Bassano
Dr. Scott
Lieutenant Slade
Three men servants
Two female servants
Mr. Uhlmann (late Prince’s valet)
Captain Bigge

Tom

May not be named but we know one of the three man servants was Alexander and one of the two female servants was Euphemie.

Thank you for that information Tom! Just a confirmation of what we assumed. Starting to think Euphemie May have only been her maid before and on that trip.

On their marriage certificate he’s down as a butler and she’s a ladies maid.

Hon Mrs Ronald Campbell, known as Kitty Campbell, was the widow of Captain Campbell, Coldstream Guards, the staff officer to Wood.  He was killed in action at Hlobane on 28 March 1879.  Wood suggested later that he would have recommended Campbell for a VC had he survived.  However, Campbell's son - Lt Col John Vaughan Campbell, also Coldstream Guards was awarded a VC during WW1. A grandson, also Coldstream Guards was killed during the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940. A remarkable family

The Empress's party travelled in a 4 horse carriage, covered 800 miles and spent 50 nights under canvas. No 4/5 star lodges in KZN in those days!

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Portsmouth Evening News 15 May 1880

Sarah,

I don’t know where Euphemie was between the time she returned from South Africa in 1880 until she married Walkinshaw in 1887.  (Maybe she was still with the Empress.)  Alexander and Euphemie, as well as their son, appear on the 1891 census at Farnborough employed as Domestic Servants. (I would imagine they were in the employ of Sir Evelyn and Lady Wood.) In the 1901 census Alexander is a Butler, Euphemie is listed as his wife at St. Marylebone, but I could find no mention of their son.  On the 1911 census Alexander is still employed as a Butler at St. Marylbone, but Euphemie is not listed as being with him.

Tom

Thank you for the newspaper article about the pilgrimage. A very interesting read.

Yes we have all the census records. They appeared to be apart when he worked as Woods butler nearer the end of Woods life.

By the way; this was an image of Woods bodyguards in 1879...I wonder if one of these men is Alexander, it’s hard to tell!

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Tom's post about Alexander and Euphemie being on the 1891 census made me think.

Evelyn Wood became General Officer Commanding Aldershot in 1889, his residence was Government House which still stands opposite the Queen's Hotel on the Farnborough Road. The residence of Empress Eugenie at that time was Farnborough Hill, which also still stands today (a girls school) and is perhaps one mile to the north along the Farnborough Road. The 1891 census was taken on a Sunday (5 April) which was done so that most people would be at home. So sure enough Euphemie is with Alexander on that day, but it is perfectly possible that she was in fact still employed by the Empress just up the road.

Finally, here is a photo of Eugenie's domestic staff taken in 1890 - no names I am afraid, but it is possible that Euphemie is there.

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Photo ack. St Michael's Abbey Farnborough

Steve Reinstadtler

Sarah289

Like you say, Hard to Tell.

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