Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walter was the son of Eli NORRIS & Mary Elizabeth LEADER and was born on the 3rd of August 1886 in Skilly Creek, near Auburn, SA.

His parents were married on the 19th of August 1875 in the Bible Christian Church, Watervale, SA.

His father was the son of William NORRIS and was born in Sedghill, Wiltshire, England in 1852.
His mother was the daughter of William LEADER & Pleasant HILL and was born on the 23rd of July 1855 in Adelaide, SA.

Walter was the sixth child born into the family of 10 children.

His father was a sheep farmer and they lived at Skilly Creek, near Auburn, SA.

After his education, Walter became a farmer.

His brother Arthur enlisted into the 10th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements on the 28th of November 1914 (1395) and embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on the 2nd of February 1915.

At the age of 25, Walter enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 27th of February 1915 in Keswick, SA and was allotted the service number 2205 and posted to F Company, Base Infantry in Oaklands Camp. He was then transferred to the 10th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements on the 1st of April.

Walter embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 23rd of June 1915 and disembarked in Egypt.
After a few weeks training he embarked from Alexandria for the Dardanelles on board HMT Berrima on the 1st of August and was taken on strength with the 10th Battalion 3 days later.

After serving at Gallipoli in the same Battalion as his brother, Walter suffered from Enteritis. He then embarked from Suez on the 21st of January 1916 on board HMAT Commonwealth, disembarking in Adelaide on the 1st of March 1916. Whilst he was on the voyage his brother Arthur was transferred to the newly raised 50th Battalion.

Walter re embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A37 Barambah on the 27th of June 1916, disembarking in Plymouth on the 25th of August.
Whilst he was on the voyage his brother was already in the front line trenches near brickfields and sadly he was killed in action on the 16th of August 1916.

Walter then served in France and after being wounded he embarked from England on the 10th of March 1918 on board HT Durham Castle and was then transferred to HT Orontes at Capetown, before disembarking in Melbourne on the 10th of May 1918 and entrained to Adelaide.

Walter was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 27th of May 1918.

On the 10th of June 1921 Walter was granted Section 644, Hundred of Upper Wakefield, as part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme.
However, he didn’t take this land up and by the late 1930’s was a dairy farmer at Owen.

With the outbreak of WW2, aged 44, Walter enlisted into the CMF on the 9th of May 1940 in Owen, SA and was allotted the service number S378 and posted to the 4th Garrison Battalion.

He reported for duty on the 10th of August 1940. On the 14th of May 1942 he was admitted into the Casualty Dressing Station at Keswick for 3 days, suffering from Influenza.
Walter was discharged from the CMF on the 11th of September 1942.

By 1967 he had moved to Balaklava.

Walter died on the 4th of October 1975 and was buried in the Balaklava Cemetery; Plot 1055N.

Military

WW1

At the age of 25, Walter enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 27th of February 1915 in Keswick, SA and was allotted the service number 2205 and posted to F Company, Base Infantry in Oaklands Camp.
He listed his mother, of Saddleworth, SA, as his next of kin.

He was then transferred to the 10th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements on the 1st of April.

Walter embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 23rd of June 1915 and disembarked in Egypt.
After a few weeks training he embarked from Alexandria for the Dardanelles on board HMT Berrima on the 1st of August and was taken on strength with the 10th Battalion 3 days later.

Here they spent the next 3 months holding the existing lines and dysentery increased beyond all measures. Flies and vermin were everywhere and the soldier’s health began to give way under the strain.
Walter was one of these men who suffered from dysentery and enteritis on the 21st of October and was admitted into the 1st Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to the hospital ship HS Nevasa and sailed to Malta.
He was admitted into St Andrews Hospital 6 days later and remained here until he embarked for Alexandria on the 14th of December, where he was admitted into the 1st British Red Cross Hospital in Montazah.

Walter spent Christmas 1915 here before being discharged to the Convalescent Camp in Port Said on the 28th of December, awaiting his 3 months “change” back to Australia.
Walter embarked from Suez on the 21st of January 1916 on board HMAT Commonwealth, disembarking in Adelaide on the 1st of March 1916.

Walter was then transferred to the 10th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements on the 18th of March 1916 and entrained to Melbourne on the 24th of June.

Walter re embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A37 Barambah on the 27th of June 1916, disembarking in Plymouth on the 25th of August and marched into the 3rd Training Battalion in Perham Downs, Camp No.6.
After further training he proceeded to France on the 19th of November and reported to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot (ADBD) in Le Havre.

Whilst here he suffered with the mumps 10 days later and was admitted into the 24th General Hospital in Etaples. He was then transferred to the 18th General Hospital in Camiers on the 18th of December, where he spent Christmas 1916.
Two days after Christmas Walter was discharged to 1st Australian Division Base Depot (ADBD) and then on the 4th of January 1917, he was taken on strength with the 10th Battalion at Hobart Camp, near Dernancourt.

Walter and his Battalion continued training here until the 14th when they marched to Bresle to continue their training.
By the 1st of February they had moved to Albert and were engaged in fatigue duties and whilst here Walter suffered an abrasion to his left foot, which became septic resulting in him being admitted into the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on the 3rd of March.
Two days later he was transferred to the 7th Canadian General Hospital in Etaples and spent nearly 4 weeks here before being discharged to the 6th Convalescent Depot on the 1st of April.

Walter was then transferred to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot (ADBD) and then 4 days later and rejoined his Battalion on the 14th of April in the front line near Longueval.
After they were relieved they moved to Bapaume where they spent all May in training before moving to Ribemont and henencourt for training in June.
Most of August was then spent at Bleu in training and refitting before moving into the front line at Polygon Wood on the 20th of September.

On the 1st of October they relieved the 48th Battalion in the front line at Westhoek Ridge and during this relief Walter suffered a Gun Shot Wound to upper left arm and was admitted into the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance before being transferred to the 3rd Canadian Clearing Station at Remy Sidings the following day
He was then transferred to the 55th General Hospital in Wimereux and on the 15th he was invalided to England and admitted into the 1st Western General Hospital in Lancashire.

Walter spent the next 6 weeks here before being transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 26th of November. He then spent Christmas 1917 here before being discharged to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth on the 27th of December, awaiting his return to Australia.

Walter embarked from England on the 10th of March 1918 on board HT Durham Castle and was then transferred to HT Orontes at Capetown, before disembarking in Melbourne on the 10th of May 1918 and entrained to Adelaide.

Walter was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 27th of May 1918 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War & Victory Medals.

WW2

At the age of 44, Walter enlisted into the CMF on the 9th of May 1940 in Owen, SA and was allotted the service number S378 and posted to the 4th Garrison Battalion.
He listed his sister, Mrs Emily Elizabeth MATHY, of Penwortham, SA, as his next of kin.

He reported for duty on the 10th of August 1940. On the 14th of May 1942 he was admitted into the Casualty Dressing Station at Keswick for 3 days, suffering from Influenza.
Walter was discharged from the CMF on the 11th of September 1942.