1943 Walker's own ship Starling was responsible for the sinking of two U-boats. The first, , was destroyed on 2 June by depth charges and gunfire, and the other, , on 24 June by depth charges and ramming. Another U-boat, , was sunk by his group on the same day. On 30 July, Walker's group encountered a group of three U-boats on the surface (two were vital type XIV replenishment boats known as "Milk Cows") while in the Bay of Biscay. He signalled the "General Chase" to his group and fired at them, causing damage that prevented them from diving. Two of the submarines, , a Type XIV, and , a Type IX/C40, were then sunk by Walker's group, and the second Type XIV, , by an Australian Short Sunderland flying boat. Upon his return to Liverpool, Walker was informed that his son, Timothy Walker, had been killed when the submarine was lost in early August 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea. On 14 September 1943, Walker was appointed as a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) "for leadership and daring in command of H.M.S. Starling in successful actions against Enemy submarines in the Atlantic." On 6 November 1943 Walker's group sank and . In early 1944 Walker's group displayed its efficiency against U-boats by sinking six in one patrol. On 31 January 1944 Walker's group gained its first kill of the year when it sank . On 9 February his group sank , , and in one action, then sank on 11 February, and on 19 February. On 20 February 1944 one ship of Walker's group, , was torpedoed and sank seven days later while being towed home. All of her crewmen were saved. They returned to their base at Liverpool to the thrilled jubilation of the city's inhabitants and the Admiralty. The First Lord of the Admiralty was present to greet Walker and his ships. Walker was promoted to captain and awarded a second bar to his DSO. In March 1944 Walker's group provided part of the 32-ship escort force for an Arctic convoy of 49 merchant ships, codenamed Convoy JW 58. The powerful escort also included two escort carriers and two flotillas of fleet destroyers, as well as the U.S. Navy light cruiser which was on its way to Russia as part of the Lend-Lease programme. The whole force was commanded by Rear-Admiral Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton on