Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Margaret Phillips

Club Historian Gilberton Amateur Swimming Club Inc.

Rusk was the third son of Mr R. Rusk of Walkerville Terrace Walkerville, where he was born on 3 September 1886. He was educated at the University School, North Adelaide of which Mr A.E. Macwraith was the principal. He was also a pupil at the Church of England School in Pulteney Street, under the Rev. Donald Kerr, B.A.

Soon after having completed his education he went to Western Australia and was occupied in farming in the Tambelup district for some years. He came back to South Australia and was engaged by the State Government; to go to the Katherine River, Northern Territory, on the Government experimental farm to grow wheat. However, he had to leave the Territory before his time expired on account of fever. He then returned to Western Australia, where he entered commercial life and was among the first to enlist; from the State in the 10 th Light Horse. He always took a great interest in manly sports and was a favourite with young men”. Register 11 December 1915 p10

His death was reported by Sergeant J. J. Barnett 366 10 th Australian LH C Squadron from Harefield Hospital in Middlesex on 29 February 1916 “I know that on August the 20 th in the attack on Hill 60, Gallipoli, above went out and did not turn-up in the trench we took and which formed our furthest out front. There was a big scrub fire caused by shells over the ground that afternoon and evening and a lot of men burnt there. Rusk was included in the Western Mail War Souvenir Supplement Christmas 1915, in the list of killed in action and I believe he is dead. He was in my Squadron. Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files 1914 – 1918 War

The fourth son of Robert and Hannah Rusk of Walkerville, Walter was educated at University School North Adelaide and Pulteney Street School under Reverend Kerr. After School he went farming in Western Australia. He later worked on the government experimental farm in Katherine, Northern Territory, growing wheat. He returned to Western Australia and entered comercial life.

Walter was amonngst the first to enlist in the 10th Light Horse in October 1914. He was reported missing believed killed during an attack on Hill 60, Gallipoli. His body was never found. In December 1916 a Court of Inquiry declared him "Killed in Action at Gallipoli..."

"THE LATE TPR. RUSK.

Tpr. Walter Jordan Rusk, who was killed in action at Gallipoli in an attack on Hill 60 on August 29, was the third son of Mr. R. Rusk, of Walkerville terrace, Walkerville, where he was born. He was educated at the University School, North Adelaide, of which Mr. A. E. Macgraith was the principal. He was also a pupil at the Church of England School in Pultney street, under the Rev. Donald Kerr. B.A. Soon after having completed his education he went to Western Australia, and was occupied in farming in the Tambelup district for some years. He came back to South Australia, and was engaged by the State Government to go to the Katherine River, Northern Territory, on the Government experimental farm to grow wheat. However, he had to leave the Territory before his time expired on account of fever. He then returned to Western Australia, where he entered commercial life, and was among the first to enlist from that State in the 10th Light Horse. He always took a great interest in manly sports, and was a favourite with young men." - from the Adelaide Register 11 Dec 1915 (nla.gov.au)