Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walter Snadden was one of 60,000 Australian soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War. The foundations for World War I were set on June 23rd, 1914, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. One month later, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. As a result, Germany decided to take side with Austro-Hungary, while Serbia was allied with Russia. Germany then decided to declare war on Russia on the first of August, as well as France (an ally of Russia), two days later. Britain also joined the war on Germany, after Germany invaded Belgium to cross into France. As the War continued to extend and grow, it was only until fear of collapse within the Alliances and complete consumption of resources that the War began to come to a close in 1918. After Armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28th, 1919, the War officially came to a close.

Walter Snadden was born in 1880 in Footscray, a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria. It is quite possible that he may have lived at his father's residence throughout his life, located on 155 Buckley Street, Footscray. Before enlistment, he worked as a machine engineer at Eldridge's Standard Quarries. A descendant of the Snaddens, one of Footscray’s oldest families, Walter was the eldest son of James Snadden and Agnes Wilson and brother to Harold, James, Herbert, Robert, Euphemia and Effie.

Walter enlisted into the Imperial Force in March 1915 at age 34, posting to the 24th Battalion. As the required age limit to serve was between 18 and 34 years old, Walter was nearly too old to enlist. However, not wanting to let this restriction stand in the way of his joining his fellow countrymen in battle, Walter decided to put his age as 24 years and 9 months, which he wrote on the enlistment paper. He was accepted, and embarked on the 10th of May, from a port in Melbourne. After brief training, and medical examination which showed him as healthy and able, he was sent to Alexandria, Egypt on board the HMAT Euripides A14.

He was soon promoted to Temporary Corporal on the 6th of October but was diagnosed with malaria two months later in Heliopolis, Cairo. He was promptly sent to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital for about three months, before being discharged to follow the 24th Battalion to fight on the Western Front in France. It was during this time that he also became a permanent corporal. However, he continued to suffer from malaria, as well as influenza, and was sent to hospital twice more throughout his service in France. Then on the 22nd of February, 1917, towards the end of one of France’s worst winters, Walter Snadden was wounded in action after the battalion sent a party on patrol to take up a line of outposts. He was shot through his right thigh, wounded along with six other men, and was quickly admitted to a hospital in Rouen, France.

A few days later, he was reported as being dangerously ill, and on the 8th of March, at 2 pm, Corporal Walter Snadden passed away at the young age of 36. He was buried two days later in the St Sever Cemetery Extension, Haute-Normandie, France at Grave Number 1247. His next of kin, his father, James Snadden, was informed of the passing of his son through a series of letters. His two brothers, James and Harold who also served in the first World War, both outlived him, returning to Victoria after their service.

Walter SNADDEN was born in Footscray, Victoria in 1880

His parents were James SNADDEN & Agnes WILSON

               "TIS SWEET TO KNOW WE'LL MEET AGAIN

                       WHERE PARTING IS NO MORE

                   AND THE ONES WE LOVED SO DEAR

                        HAVE ONLY GONE BEFORE"

Two of his brothers also served in WW1

1. James Wilson SNADDEN (SN 460) returned to Australia in 1918

2. Harold Lyle SNADDEN (SN 6061 returned to Australia in 1919