Career
Walkerdine was commissioned on 4 June 1917. He was appointed a Flying Officer on 3 September 1917. He was assigned to 56 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory Southeast.5a pilot by late 1917.
He scored his first aerial victory on 29 November 1917, when he destroyed a German Dallas–Fort Worth two-seater reconnaissance plane over Neuvireuil.
He would not score again until 15 March 1918, when he drove an Albatros Doctorate.V down out of control north of Bourlon Wood. The next day at noon, he drove another Albatros down out of control.
Two days later, on the 18th, he destroyed a pair of Pfalz Doctorate.IIIs to become an ace. On 23 March, Walkerdine, Maurice Mealing, Henry John Burden, and three other pilots all claimed a victory apiece by destroying a German reconnaissance plane over Moreuil.
Four days later, Walkerdine and fellow ace Louis Jarvis destroyed an Albatros Doctorate.V southeast of Bray.
Walkerdine was wounded in action on 11 April 1918. On 23 March 1919, Walkerdine was placed on the Royal Air Force"s unemployed list. These orders were subsequently cancelled.
He finally relinquished his commission on 16 April 1919, on the grounds of ill health suffered while in military service.
Walkerdine returned to his nation"s service, being commissioned an acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Training Branch of the Royal Air Force on 4 March 1941. He served until 22 August 1945, when he once again resigned his commission.
