19 Facts About Kevin Walton

Kevin Walton was the son of William Heward Murray Walton, a clergyman and missionary, and his wife Myra, whose family had served for four generations in the Indian Civil Service.

Kevin Walton's godfather was Howard Somervell, a member of the 1922 and 1924 Everest expeditions.

Later, encouraged by Somervell, Walton developed an interest in climbing.

Kevin Walton spent his early years living in Japan with his parents before coming back to Britain to spend four years being brought up by a great aunt and uncle while his parents returned to their missionary work in Japan.

Kevin Walton joined the Royal Navy as an engineer officer at the start of World War II, and took part in various naval actions during the next five years.

Kevin Walton took part in several of the Malta Convoys and served in the Far East towards the end of the war.

On 26 August 1946 another member of the party, Major Tonkin, fell into a crevasse; the rescue that followed led to Kevin Walton being awarded the Albert Medal on 28 May 1948, and the following citation was published in the London Gazette on 8 June 1948:.

Lieutenant Kevin Walton volunteered to be lowered in the crevasse to free Major Tonkin by chipping.

Lieutenant Kevin Walton was lowered down a wider part of the crevasse and worked his way along until he reached and succeeded in freeing Major Tonkin, who was eventually pulled to the surface, after having been three hours down the crevasse.

Lieutenant Kevin Walton was lowered down to him on five separate occasions, remaining down for considerable periods on each occasion.

Kevin Walton's persistence was most commendable, and it was due solely to his efforts that Major Tonkin was finally rescued.

Kevin Walton received its Clasp and Queen's Commendation for another crevasse rescue on South Georgia in 1952.

Kevin Walton had various occupations on leaving the Royal Navy, including British Secretary of the International Antarctic Expedition, when he kept huskies in the gardens of the Royal Geographical Society in London; mechanic for Aston Martin in the Le Mans 24-hour race, and the first instructor for the Outward Bound Mountain School in the Lake District.

For six months Kevin Walton was one of the crew of a yacht which landed agents in Albania.

Kevin Walton taught workshop engineering at Oundle School, at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and at Malvern College.

Kevin Walton was involved in the construction of a nuclear power station in Wales and in British Voluntary Service Overseas.

Kevin Walton was a member of The Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.

In 1948 Kevin Walton married Ruth Yule, with whom he had one son and three daughters.

Kevin Walton is commemorated by Mount Walton in Graham Land, part of the British Antarctic Territory.