Samuel Walkey facts for kids

Samuel Walkey (born July 10, 1871 – died March 29, 1953) was an English bank inspector. In his free time, he became a very successful writer of exciting adventure stories for boys. Walkey wrote at least sixteen novels and hundreds of short stories for magazines. He shared his tales with readers for over 40 years!

Early Life of Samuel Walkey

Samuel Walkey was born in Kilkhampton, Cornwall, England, on July 10, 1871. His father, Joshua Walkey, was a draper, which means he sold cloth and fabric.

When Samuel was 16, he started working as a clerk at the Devon and Cornwall Bank. He worked very hard and was quickly promoted. In 1891, he was living in Torpoint, a town near Plymouth.

Adult Life and Family

In the 1890s, Samuel Walkey became a bank inspector. This job meant he traveled all over the West Country region of England. While working as an inspector, he married Kathleen Agnes White on September 6, 1897. They got married in Torpoint.

Samuel and Kathleen had three children:

• Joyce Morwenna (born 1898 – died 1988)
• Howarth Seymour (born 1900 – died 1970): He joined the Navy and became a Rear Admiral in 1956.
• John Christopher (born 1903 – died 1989): He joined the Royal Engineers, a part of the army. He became a Major General before he retired.

In 1901, Walkey became the manager of the Devon and Cornwall Bank in Penzance. A few years later, in 1906, his bank joined with Lloyds Bank. By 1908, Walkey was promoted to manager of the new Lloyds bank in Newton Abbot. He continued to work for Lloyds Bank until he retired.

Becoming a Writer

Samuel Walkey started writing stories to pass the time during his evenings alone, especially when he was traveling for his bank job. A famous writer named Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch saw his writing and introduced him to Max Pemberton, who used to be the editor of a popular magazine called Chums. Walkey's first story appeared in Chums in 1895.

Walkey wrote exciting adventure fiction for young readers. He also wrote some romance fiction for adults, but most of his stories were for kids. He was known for his many adventure books.

Often, Walkey's stories would first appear in magazines as a "serial." This means the story would be published in parts, week after week. Then, if the story was popular, it would be published as a full book. For example, his book With Redskins on the Warpath first appeared in Chums magazine in 1901 before being released as a book later that year.

Books by Samuel Walkey

Here are some of the books Samuel Walkey wrote. Many of them are adventure stories!

Illustrations for Rogues of the Fiery Cross

Paul Hardy was an artist who often drew pictures for Walkey's books. He illustrated Rogues of the Fiery Cross, which was a very popular story. It first appeared in Chums magazine and then became a book in 1897. Here are some of the exciting illustrations from that book:

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  I caught him by the collar

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  One caught me roughly by the throat

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  He drew a knife

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  His sword came swinging down

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  Turn over- he cried

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  A ship lay in the lagoon

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  The two hurtled up and down

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  He wore a ceaseless grin

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  They burst up the stairs

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  He drew a pistol and pulled the trigger

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  He flung his rapier round and round

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  The Dutchman fought with desperate fury

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  The heavy wood dropped backwards

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  My fathers hands were tight upon his throat

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  The ship came nearer and nearer

Magazine Stories

Samuel Walkey wrote many stories for different magazines. Here is a list of some of his magazine stories, mostly for young readers:

Later Life and Legacy

After retiring from the bank, Samuel Walkey moved back to the West Country, settling in Dawlish, Devonshire, England. His wife, Kathleen, passed away in 1949. Samuel Walkey died four years later, on March 29, 1953, in Teignmouth, Devonshire.

Samuel Walkey's stories were very popular. Many people remembered the exciting pirate tales he wrote for Chums magazine. He wrote fast-paced stories about villains and heroes for over thirty years! Readers loved his work and followed his stories with great excitement.

A writer named Thomas once visited a school and asked the boys if they knew Samuel Walkey. The boys shouted, "Rather!" This shows how famous and well-loved Walkey was among young readers. Another famous author, Geoffrey Trease, said that Walkey's Hurrah for Merry Sherwood! was his favorite story. Trease even said that Walkey's stories inspired him to write his own adventure books for boys.