Correspondence and photographs of John C.W. Walter
Letters written to his mother while serving as a cadet and District Officer in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), with some photographs. Also, a few letters with biographical details. Comprises:
Folder 1:
- (fols. 1-32) nine letters by Walter written from Lusaka, Isoka, Chinsali, and from the villages of several chiefs while he was on tour, 16 Aug-28 Dec 1937
- (fols. 38-81) seventeen typed copies of letters written from Cape Town, Lusaka, Isoka, and from the villages of several chiefs. Seven of these letters are typescripts of the manuscript letters described above and there are some odd pages at the back undated and unidentified, 11 Aug-6 Dec 1937
- (fols. 81-177) thirty-three letters from Isoka, Abercorn (Mbala), and the villages, 5 Jan-10 Dec 1938
- (fols. 178-231) twelve letters from Isoka, Mwenga, and on the Wendo, 3 Jan-31 Mar 1939
- (envelope 1) fifteen photographs taken by J.C.W. Walter when he was a District Officer (DO) in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), 1937
- (envelope 2) seventeen photographs taken by J.C.W. Walter when he was a DO in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), 1938
- (envelope 3) typical scenes in the life of a DO on tour in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) (nineteen images), 1937-1939.
Folder 2:
- (fols. 1-4) letter from Walter to his mother about his learning to fly and about possible living conditions when he goes out to Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), 16 Oct [1937]
- (fol. 5) letter from G.G. Robinson, Puisne Judge, Ndola, to Walter congratulating him on passing his Law Examination, 13 Sep 1938
- (fol. 6) letter from C.H. Rawstorne for the Provincial Commissioner to Walter thanking him for volunteering to man the road barrier on the Mwengo Mission Road, 3 Oct 1938
- (fol. 7) letter from J. Haddington, Provincial Commissioner, Kasama, to Walter thanking him for his help while he was in the Province, 12 Jun 1939
- (fol. 8) copy of an application from Walter to the Officer Commanding the First Battalion of the Northern Rhodesian Regiment to transfer to the RAF. This letter gives a number of biographical details, 29 Dec 1939
- (fol. 9) letter from the District Commissioner, Isoka, to Mrs. Walter about the transfer of her late husband's possessions to her at Nairobi, also telling her of the great loss to the service John Walter's death had been, 13 Jan 1944.
Dates
- Creation: 1937-1944
Extent
1 box
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Afr. s. 664, folder 1, fols. 1-2].
Shelfmark:
MSS. Afr. s. 664
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 4767
Abstract
Correspondence and photographs of John C.W. Walter.
Biographical / Historical
John C.W. Walter was educated at Wellington College, and Peterhouse College, Cambridge, graduating in 1936. In 1937, he entered the Colonial Service as a cadet in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), subsequently travelling to Isoka to work under the District Officer, Fane-Smith. By 1939, Walter had been appointed Assistant District Officer. Walter returned to England in to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was married in Apr 1940 and in Aug of that year was posted to the Middle East. In 1943, he returned to England as a flying officer but was killed in action almost immediately, being awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was transferred to the library from the Oxford Colonial Records Project.
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Catalogue of the correspondence and photographs of John C.W. Walter
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Original catalogue by P.M. Pugh; Collection Level Description by Marion Lowman.
- Date
- 1966; EAD version 2024
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- Second edition.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk