Sixth Generation (Continued)
Sixth Generation (Continued)
Family of Mizpah (Gertrude Mabel) Walker (32) & Herbert John Waterman
60. Jean Margaret Walker/Salt (Mizpah (Gertrude Mabel) Walker5, William4, William3, William2, Elizabeth1) . Born on 15 Aug 1925 in Islington, County of London, England, United Kingdom.2,20 Jean Margaret was baptized in Camden Town, St. Pancras, County of London, England, United Kingdom, on 31 Aug 1925. Jean Margaret died in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom, on 10 Jun 1995; she was 69.

Jean Walker was born at St. John's Workhouse, 129 St. John's Road, Islington at 12:10 a.m. on 15 August 1925. Jean Walker was admitted to St. Christopher’s Home for Babies in Headingley near Leeds, Yorkshire on 26 February 1926. She was transferred to St. Deny’s Home for Toddlers at 9a Pimlico Road, Clitheroe, Lancashire on 26 March 1929. From there Ernest Salt and his wife adopted Jean on 2 May 1929.

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On 10 Jan 1948 Jean Margaret married John Valentine , son of Charles Frederick Valentine & Ada Frances Rutter Lander, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom.2 Born on 8 Jan 1922 in Alfreton, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom.2 John died in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, on 15 Feb 2003; he was 81. Occupation: Coal Miner.

John Valentine was born at home on Prospect Street in Alfreton.

Prior to entering the Royal Navy in 1938, John Valentine was a coal miner. He entered the Boy's Service on the Royal Navy on 4 July 1938 and the Men's Service on 8 January 1940. His naval training was at HMS Ganges, the boy's training facility at Shotley, Suffolk from enlistment in July 1938 to 29 June 1939. On 30 June 1939, John Valentine was on board the HMS Hawkins, a Cavendish class light cruiser launched on 1 October 1917. From 1 July to 28 July 1939, he was housed at the HMS Victory Naval Barracks at Portsmouth. On 29 July 1939, John Valentine joined the crew of the HMS Ark Royal which was launched on 13 April 1937, commissioned on 16 December 1938, and sunk on 14 November 1941. During his time on the HMS Ark Royal, the ship served in the South Atlantic participating in the search for the German Naval Ship Admiral Graf Spree in December 1939, the Norwegian campaign in the spring 1940 including an air raid against Trondheim on 13 June, and the July 1940 assault on the French naval base at Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria during which the British sank the French fleet. On 9 July 1940 while in the Mediterranean Sea, she was attacked by Italian aircraft in connection to raids on the British colony of Malta.

John Valentine left the HMS Ark Royal on 11 August 1940 having been transferred to the HMS Erebus starting 12 August 1940. The HMS Erebus, a turret drill ship based at Portsmouth, was launched 19 June 1916, commissioned 2 September 1916 and scrapped in July 1946. In July 1943 while John Valentine served on the ship, it was damaged during an Axis air attack while supporting the Allied landings in Sicily. After nearly four years on the HMS Erebus, he was transferred on 15 April 1944 to the HMS Victory naval barracks at Portsmouth where he stayed until 26 May 1944.

On 27 May 1944, John Valentine joined the crew of the HMS Excellent, the Royal Navy gunnery training ship/base at Whale Island, Portsmouth. He stayed at the gunnery base until 26 February 1945 when he was transferred to the HMS Nimrod, a base ship on 27 February 1945. He served at HMS Nimrod, an anti-submarine training facility, until 14 August 1945. From 15 August to 18 October 1945, he was alternately at HMS Victory and Excellent. On 19 October 1945, John Valentine joined the crew of the London class cruiser HMS Sussex, launched on 22 February 1928, commissioned 19 March 1929, decommissioned 2 February 1949, and scrapped in 1950. He served on the HMS Sussex until 28 March 1947.

From 29 March 1947 to 31 July 1947, John Valentine was back that HMS Victory naval barracks before being transferred on 1 August 1947 to HMS Lochinvar, a naval facility on the Firth of Forth at Port Edgar, Fife, Scotland. He remained at HMS Lochinvar until 29 October 1947 before returning the barracks at HMS Victory where he remained until being discharged from the Navy on 30 November 1947.

John Valentine was discharged from the Royal Navy with a Class B release. His character was judged as Very Good throughout his service. When he entered the Royal Navy on 4 July 1938, he was Boy Class 2. On 8 January 1940 (his 18th birthday) upon entering the Men's Service, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman while serving on HMS Ark Royal. On 8 August 1940 three days before leaving HMS Ark Royal for the HMS Erebus, he was promoted to Able Seaman. His service number was Portsmouth JX 159188.

After leaving the Royal Navy, John Valentine returned to Alfreton and resumed his work in the coal mines. He was a coal miner for the Blackwell Colliery Company of Alfreton (nationalized in 1947 as part of the National Coal Board) until the mine at Blackwell closed in 1969 and for the Shirebrook Colliery Company of Mansfield (nationalized in 1947 as part of the National Coal Board) until retirement about 1980. John Valentine and his family resided at Blackwell, Derbyshire when he worked the mines there. After the closure of Blackwell mine, the company relocated the family to Shirebrook, Derbyshire.

They had the following children:
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