Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Oswald Stuart Walker was born on the 25th of December 1893 to mother Ellen ‘Nellie’ Minahan and Father Stuart Douglas Walker in Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia. Oswald had 6 siblings, 2 sisters and 4 brothers, he was the 4th child. He had one older sister, Ruby and one younger sister, Chrystilla Jeanie. Unfortunately, when Ruby was only 4 hours old, she passed away. His older brothers were Douglas Henry and Darryl Alexander. His younger brothers were Ronald Lyndon and Horace Bruce.

Oswald worked as a clerk. Clerks handled office administration by organizing paperwork and entering data into ledgers. During a war, being a clerk was valuable for many reasons. Clerks handle important documents which is important for managing supplies, tracking troop movements, and documenting orders. Oswald’s skills as a clerk played an important role during war.

Oswald enlisted on the 8 November 1915 at the age of 21. His service number was 4903. Oswald was the first in his family to enlist into the military. Oswald had dark hair and brown eyes. He was 5’8 (172cm) and weighed 120 pounds (54kg) when he enlisted for war. Oswald was vaccinated and passed the medical examination which determined he was active for service.

After Oswald enlisted into the military a year later his older brother Douglas Henry Walker also enlisted. 

Oswald initially trained at the Morphettville training camp. Morphettville was one of the primary training camps in South Australia during World War I. On the 14th of January 1916 Oswald was admitted to the hospital at Mitcham for Vaccinia. Vaccinia is like smallpox, characterized by the eruption of small pock like spots throughout the skin and internal organs. Oswald was discharged the next day.

Oswald boarded the R.M.S Mongolia on the 9th of March 1916 at Port Adelaide to serve in the 10th Infantry Battalion. The R.M.S Mongolia had a total of 479 military passengers.

On the 10th of May 1916 Oswald arrived in Alexandria, Egypt where he was attached to the 50th battalion on the 20th of May 1916.

The 50th battalion was a mix of soldiers who had already fought in the war and recently recruited soldiers. Most of the men originated from South Australia, many had already served with the 10th Battalion. The battalion became part of the 13th Brigade attached to the 4th Australian Divison.

After arriving in France on the 11th of June 1916, the 50th fought in its first major battle at Mouquet Farm between the 13th and 15th of August.

Mouquet Farm was the site of nine separate attacks by three Australian divisions. Mouquet Farm was located in a dominating position on a ridge that extended north-west from the village of Pozieres. The attacks cost the 50th battalion over 400 casualties, and the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions over 11,000 casualties, with not one succeeded in capturing and holding it. The 50th Battalion took part in another assault launched there on the 3rd of September. The British advance eventually bypassed Mouquet Farm leaving it to fall on the 27th of September 1916.

For the rest of the year the Battalion alternated between front-line duty, training and labouring. Oswald was likely putting his previous skills as a clerk to use during this time filing documents and reports which saw him transfer to Rouen to serve in the 3rd echelon on the 24th of November 1916.

The 3rd Echelon provided services which kept the combat troops in the field. The 3rd Echelon handled paperwork, communications, and records related to soldiers. Oswald worked hard in the 3rd Echelon which saw him be promoted to Corporal on the 1st of January 1917.

Oswald went on leave from the war on the 28th of April 1917 and returned on the 8th of May 1917. His leave was short, lasting 10 days. After returning from leave Oswald continued his work in the 3rd Echelon at Rouen, France.

On the 20th of August 1917 Oswald was promoted once again, this time to E.R/Sergeant (Emergency Reserve/Sergeant). These promotions show that Oswald was very skilled at his job and his previous work as a clerk would’ve played an important role in these promotions.

On the 20th of January 1918 Oswald went on leave again until 6th February 1918, returning to the 3rd Echelon. In November 1918 he was struck off strength of the 3rd Echelon and marched in to the Australian Administrative Headquarters in London. 

Oswald returned to Australia on the ship “S.S Somali”. Oswald arrived back in Melbourne, Australia on the 15th July 1919 Oswald was 25 at the time. His brother, Douglas Henry Walker, tragically died in the 8th of November 1917 at Ypres, Belgium while he was serving in the Battle of Passchendaele.

Oswald married Clarice Edna Alice Moller in South Australia on the 28th of February 1920 at Christian Chapel, Military Road, Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia. His first child Edna May Walker was born on the 28th of May 1921 in Port Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia. 

Oswald’s second daughter Olive Ruby Walker was born on the 3rd of December 1922 in Norwood, Adelaide, South Australia. The middle name ‘Ruby’ may have been a tribute to Oswald’s older sister ‘Ruby’ who sadly passed away only 4 hours after she was born.

Oswald’s father Stuart Douglas Walker died on the 20th of July 1942. Shortly after Oswald’s mother Ellen ‘Nellie’ Minahan dies on the 26th of January 1943.

Oswald’s wife passed away 27th of April 1952, aged 52.

Oswald Stuart Walker passed away on the 15th of June 1963 at age 69 due to natural causes. He was cremated and buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, Goodwood Rd, Pasadena, Adelaide, South Australia.