GUNNYON, Walter
| Service Number: | 631 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | Siege Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Stawell, Victoria, Australia , 16 May 1895 |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 December 1972, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne City of Greater Dandenong, Victoria. Memorial ID 248501409 |
| Memorials: | Fremantle Scots Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 631, Siege Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 631, Siege Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 15 Jan 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 631, Siege Artillery Brigade, RMS Osterley, Sydney | |
| 27 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 631, Siege Artillery Brigade, Remained on duty | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 631, Siege Artillery Brigade, GSW to face, remained on duty | |
| 11 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 631 | |
| 24 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 631, Siege Artillery Brigade, GSW to groin. Invalided to UK. Returned to Australia on 28.2.19 per Anchises. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Helen Harmer
Walter “Wally” Gunnyon was born in Stawell Victoria on the 16.5.1895. He had previous service with the 11th AGA, 5th MD when he enlisted at Fremantle on the 3.11.15, aged 20 years 6 months. He was a Clerk and Presbyterian and described as being 5 feet 10¾ inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. Wally’s mother was Martha Jane Gunnyon of 69 Skinner St, Fremantle. His father, James Walter Gunnyon died on the 23.7.1916 while Wally was serving in France.
Wally's brother John and two brothers-in-law, Harold Talbot Day and Oliver Ploughman Harris also served. Wally was given the rank of Private with service number 631 and served with the O Siege Artillery Brigade, where he became a Gunner. He embarked on the 15.1.16 from Sydney on the Osterley. He was wounded in action on 27.4.17 but remained on duty. Wounded on the 4.10.17, he received a gunshot wound to the face. He again remained on duty. From the 29.12.17 until 14.2.18 he was treated in hospital for VD. On 4.3.18 he was admitted to the 5th Field Ambulance with synovitis of the left ankle but returned to duty on the 26th. After rejoining his unit, he was again wounded on 11.4.18. On the 1.5.18 he received a gunshot wound to his left leg and returned to duty on the 11th. For the fourth occasion, he was wounded in action on the 24.8.18 with a gunshot wound to the groin, then invalided to the UK the same day. Wally returned to Australia on the 28.2.19 per Anchises. On the 7.4.19 he disembarked in Albany and was discharged on the 26.5.19.
Wally left Fremantle in March 1922 for Melbourne after accepting a business appointment in Victoria. He was a talented and popular athlete who had played football for South Fremantle and cricket for the Miliary team in the Fremantle and Districts Association competition. He served as captain of South Fremantle and was a player in the WA State side that won the inter-state shield in Perth in 1921. Although not intending to transfer to a Victorian football team, he accepted an offer, once there, to play for St Kilda, where he received outstanding reviews. Described as a very fair player with a reliable pair of hands and a good kick, he later coached Camberwell. In 1927, his daughter was born. Wally’s war medals were sent to him at 17 Albert St, Windsor. In 1946, he was working for Nugget Boot Polish of Williamstown. Wally died in hospital in Melbourne on the 27.12.1972. His ashes were scattered at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, City of Greater Dandenong, Victoria. Memorial ID 248501409
NAA Series #2455 Barcode 4380185
The Fremantle Herald (WA : 1913 - 1915, 1919 - 1921) Fri 19 Nov 1920 Page 4 South Fremantle v. Workers’ Club.
The Advertiser (Fremantle, WA : 1921 - 1932) Fri 10 Mar 1922 Page 4 A Popular Athlete - Wally Gunnyon Goes East
The Weekly Herald (Fremantle, WA : 1922 - 1926) Fri 30 Jun 1922 Page 4 WALLY GUNNYON.
Call News-Pictorial (Perth, WA : 1927 - 1931) Fri 27 Apr 1928 Page 25 THREE BIG GAMES TO-MORROW