Walter Ernest POTTS

Walter Ernest POTTS Update Details

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POTTS, Walter Ernest

Service Number:	NX100718
Enlisted:	31 July 1942
Last Rank:	Captain
Last Unit:	Advanced Land Headquarters
Born:	Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia, 24 September 1906
Home Town:	Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Accountant and Map Designer
Died:	Natural causes, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 8 August 1988, aged 81 years
Cemetery:	Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales Family Rose Garden 64 Position 0008
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

31 Jul 1942:	Enlisted NX100718
6 May 1946:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Captain, NX100718, Advanced Land Headquarters

A Family Story

Walter Ernest Potts was born on 24 September 1906 in Hurstville, Sydney and baptised at the St. George Anglican Church in Hurstville on 7 November the same year. He was the 3rd child of Henry James Potts and his wife Annie Maude née Wallings. Walter had an older sister Thelma b.1900 and an older brother Harry b.1902.

When Walter was 7 the First World War broke out in Europe. On 19 August 1915 his father (at age 40) enlisted with the First Australian Imperial Forces and served with the Army Medical Corps 3rd Australian General Hospital in England and France.

Walter had dark hair and light blue eyes.

In 1933 Walter married Nellie Marjory née Walsh at All Saints Anglican Church Woollahra, Sydney. They had 3 children: Walter b.1935, Suzanne b.1937 and Anthony b.1941.

Concerned about the growing troubles across the world in the late '30s and early '40s and also those closer to home with the Japanese bombing of Darwin in February 1942 and then entry into Sydney Harbour of Japanese midget submarines four months later Walter moved his family to the small town of Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.

Walter served as Captain in the Second Australian Imperial Forces. He spent time at Duntroon, Canberra then New Guinea and the Philippines. In addition to his assigned work Walter was appointed as Topographic Planning Officer where he was required to proficiently map and field sketch Mindanao and Borneo operations. At the completion of his 9 years with the A.I.F. he was awarded the Pacific Star, the War Medal and the Australian Service Medal.

When Walter returned to Sydney he moved his family to Bondi and resumed his employment with The University of Sydney where he remained until his retirement.

Walter passed away on 8 August 1988 at the age of 81. He was survived by his wife, his brother and his 3 children. His funeral was held on 11 August at All Saints Anglican Church Woollahra (the same church where he married Nellie 54 years earlier). The cortege then moved to Woronora Memorial Park where Walter was cremated and his ashes interred within the Rose Garden family plot next to his father and mother who had passed away in 1944 and 1945 respectively.

Story provided by Walter's granddaughter.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia