WALLS, Aubrey Austell
| Service Number: | 405 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, 17 April 1890 |
| Home Town: | Wellington, Wellington, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Horse driver |
| Died: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 26 June 1959, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CATHOLIC 2-32. 21. |
| Memorials: | Wellington Hall of Memory Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 14 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 405, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 405, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 405, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 25 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Jun 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 405, 18th Infantry Battalion, GSW face, finger (compound fracture) | |
| 28 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Nov 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 405, 18th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Passchendaele , GSW left wrist & leg, severe | |
| 23 May 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, Third Ypres, 'At BROODSEINDE RIDGE on the 8th October 1917 under cover of practice barrage a party went forward to clean up a sniping position in front of our line. Sgt WALLS led a party on right flank with dash and bravery and after a number of enemy had been killed brought it back with 15 prisoners, safely.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 76, Date: 23 May 1918 | |
| 28 Jun 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 18th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens, GSW right shoulder, severe | |
| 4 Feb 1919: | Honoured Military Cross, 'At Morlancourt, France on the 18/19th May, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer made three journeys through heavy machine gun fire and rifle fire, with bombs, which he realized were necessary for the defence of a strong point we had just captured. He afterwards supervised digging a trench with a coolness and contempt of danger which set a fine example to his men. After daylight, when an officer was badly wounded during a reconnaissance, he went out in full view of the enemy, and helped to carry him in, being hit by a machine gun bullet on the helmet and severely bruised. Later, he again went out and shot a sniper who, from the cover of a neighbouring corn field, was causing casualties to our men. His behaviour throughout the action was conspicuous for intrepidity and devotion to duty.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15, Date: 4 February 1919 | |
| 3 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 18th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Aubrey Austell Walls's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell Sandgate Cemetery
Served in The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
61 years ago today, on the 30th June 1959, Lieutenant Aubrey Austell Walls (M.C., M.M.), 18th Battalion, horse driver from Warne Street, Wellington, New South Wales, and Newcastle, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 69. CATHOLIC 2-32. 21.
Born at Dubbo, New South Wales on the 17th April 1890 to John Johnson and Ellen Mary Walls; husband of Elizabeth (Lily) B J Walls nee O'Carroll (married 1920, Hamilton, N.S.W., died 1967), Aubrey enlisted May 1915 at Liverpool. N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 7.6.1916 (GSW face, finger -
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77608568), 3.11.1917 (GSW leg, severe), 17.8.1918 (GSW right shoulder, severe), Mr Walls returned home March 1919, discharged August 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143389680
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141608767
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75636218 - awarded Military Cross.
Aubrey’s name has been inscribed on the Wellington Council Honour Roll (photo) and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall. Name not inscribed on the Dubbo District School Honor Roll.
Thanks to Aubrey's Grandson Jim Gargan for the photo of Mr Walls and the following family history.
He served in the Great War receiving the Military Medal and the Military Cross.
It would seem that he does not appear on any local War Memorials. He worked at the BHP as a wire rope drawer until his retirement which I believe was in 1955. He was laid to rest (just prior to my birth) in 1959.
I am also seeking a photo of him from military records (or anywhere else) to add to a display of reproduction medals.
Mr Wall’s headstone inscription gives no indication that he served with distinction as a member of the 1st A.I.F., so I have placed poppies to honour his service for God, King and Country.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=6346#2
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.