WALKER, William Francis
| Service Number: | 997 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 December 1915, Place of Enlistment, Brisbane, Queensland. |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Townsville, Queensland, Australia, May 1880 |
| Home Town: | Nambour, Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Painter |
| Died: | Natural Causes , Lutwyche, Queensland, Australia, 22 December 1948 |
| Cemetery: |
Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld Anzac-7-80-68 |
| Memorials: | Nambour Maroochy Shire Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 997, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Place of Enlistment, Brisbane, Queensland. | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 42nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 997, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Embarked Lance Corporal, 997, 42nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 4 Dec 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 997, 15th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Australian Remembrance Army
Australian World War One veteran Corporal William Francis Walker, Service No. 997, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with plaques in recognition of their service for Australia.
We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 15 April 2023, along with a further 246 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page
William Francis Walker was born in 1877 in Leicestershire, England, to Joseph Walker and Annie Walker, née Love.
In 1883, William arrived in Queensland with his family. On 27 December 1915, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane, Queensland. At the time of his enlistment, he stated his occupation as painter and nominated his father, Joseph Walker of Brookhill Estate, Lutwyche, Brisbane, as his next of kin.
On 5 June 1916, William embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Borda, departing from Sydney, New South Wales. The Borda carried him first to England, and he disembarked at Southampton on 23 July 1916. After further training and preparation in England, he proceeded overseas to France.
During his service, Corporal Walker experienced several periods of illness and hospital treatment. In January 1917, he was sent to hospital sick while serving in France, and later rejoined his unit.
In June 1918, he again became unwell. On 27 June, he was admitted with influenza and passed through several medical units, including a casualty clearing station and ambulance train, before being admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen on 1 July 1918. His illness was serious enough for him to be evacuated to England, where he was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. His records also note bronchitis during this period.
On 13 September 1918, Corporal Walker was discharged from hospital to Littlemoor Camp at Weymouth. He then moved through several command depots in England, including Weymouth and Hurdcott, while recovering.
In January 1919, Corporal Walker returned to Australia aboard the Orsova, having been classified for return as medically unfit. He was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 1 May 1919.
Following his return to Australia, Corporal Walker remained in Queensland. Before the war, he had worked as a painter, and he continued in that occupation after his military service. From the 1920s, he lived in Brisbane, and at the time of his death he was residing at Boomerang Street, Lutwyche, Brisbane.
Corporal William Francis Walker died on 22 December 1948 in Brisbane, aged 71. He was buried in Anzac Portion 7, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.
He was unmarried with no known children.
After more than seven decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice.
His identity and dignity have now been restored.
We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget
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