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PRICE, Walter Davies
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mitcham, South Australia, 24 March 1886 |
| Home Town: | Hawthorn, Mitcham, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Mitcham & Unley Public School, Adelaide Shorthand and Business Training Academy |
| Occupation: | Accountant |
| Died: | Heart Attack, 29 July 1944, aged 58 years, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Mitcham Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (1), Adelaide Treasurer and Chief Secretary Roll of Honour, Richmond West Adelaide Football Club War Veterans Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Lieutenant, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Lieutenant, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 19 Feb 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Night Raid at Armentiers , severely wounded in the knee. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, 43rd Infantry Battalion |
Walter Davies Price
Name: Walter Davies Price
Service Number: Lieut.
Place of Birth: Mitcham
Date of Birth: 24 May 1886
Place of Enlistment: Keswick
Date of Enlistment: 31 August 1915
Age at Enlistment: 29
Marital Status: Single
Next of Kin: Mother – Mrs Ann Elizabeth Price, Railway Tce, Hawthorn SA.
Occupation: Accountant
Religion: Methodist
Rank: Lieutenant 43rd Battalion.
Involvement with WAFC:
Walter played 17 games and 1 Australian Club Championship game for WAFC from 1907 to 1909. He made his debut on 22 June 1907.
Biographical details:
Walter was the son of the Hon. Thomas Price, former Premier of South Australia, and Anne Elizabeth Lloyde. He was a noted Sturt athlete, and was a leading bowler for some years. He represented his State in interstate cricket against Victoria in 1913. He was also a prominent footballer for West Adelaide and Sturt and played baseball for Sturt.
Walter did his basic training with C Coy 2nd Depot Morphettville from 30 August 1915 to 15 January 1916. He attended Officers’ School from 16 January to 11 February 1916 and received his commission on 3 March. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 December. Walter was awarded the Military Cross, with the honour being listed in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 388 / 17 0f 21 July 1917.
His unit embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric on 9 June 1916. They were sent to France on 25 November 1916. On 18 February 1917, during action at Armentieres, Walter sustained multiple severe wounds to his legs and arm, and was treated at No.2 Casualty Clearing Station prior to being hospitalised at Boulogne, then admitted to Wimereux Hospital in England. On 27 March Walter was admitted to Queen Alexandrina Military Hospital. His mother had been advised by Army Base Records Melbourne, of her son’s condition on 17 March. His brother J.L. Price Esq. MLA, Parliament House Adelaide was advised of his brother’s condition on 31 March.
Walter returned to Australia on the Kanowna , arriving at Adelaide on 7 September and was discharged on 29 August 1919. He was granted a pension of 4 pounds per fortnight from 7 March 1918.
Walter was appointed by the State Government as a representative on the Land Settlement Committee and was a member of the Mitcham Local Repatriation Committee. He died of a heart attack on the 29th of July 1944, aged 58.
Submitted 21 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge
Walter Davies Price born 24/3/1886, son of Hon. Thomas Price former Premier of South Australia. Educated at Mitcham and Unley Public Schools Adelaide Shorthand and Business Training Academy. Noted Sturt athlete, and was a leading bowler for some years. He represented his State in interstate cricket against Victoria in 1913. He was also a prominent footballer and baseballer for Sturt. His injures in the WW1 put a stop to this promising athletic field, now he manages 'B' grade bowls at the Hawthorn Bowling Club.
Mr Price enlisted as a private in the AIF and gain his commission in Australia. he left with the original 43rd Battalion. he was awarded a Militarly Cross for a night raid at armentiers on 19/2/1917. He wasseverely wounded in the knee he was returned to Australia.
he was elected to the League late in 1917 and made Vice President in 1919-20. he went to the Interstate Congress which was held in Adelaide in 1919 again in Perth 1920.
Mr Price was appointed by the State Government a represent on the Land Settlement Committee. member of the Mitcham Local Repatriation Committee. Mr Price entered the Civil Service in 1903 through the Lands Department, later being transferred to the produce department. He was in 1920 Manager of the Light Square Branch of the Ice-Cold Storage Works.
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