Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Pte. Horace John Walker

Like most stories they change with each telling and this story is no different.  This is my version of my Grandfathers story…my version is woven from stories my father and mother told me, my Grandfather’s service records and research from the internet.

In 1915, a call was sent out for more Australians to enlist to form the 2nd Division of the AIF, like many other young men my Grandad, Pte. Horace John Walker or ‘Cork’ to his mates, at 22 years of age answered that call, after all it was the only right and patriotic thing to do. 

He enlisted, at Liverpool on the 8th May 1915 into B Coy, 18th Battalion.   Six weeks later he walked up the gangway of HMAT Ceramic proud, strong, excited by the great overseas adventure but I dare say with a heavy heart as he left behind his beautiful young wife, Grace and their 6mth old son, George.   He kept them close with their photo above his heart, in the pocket of his battle dress coat.

After a short stint in Egypt the 18th landed at Gallipoli, a new unit, fresh-faced and eager for battle. Two days later on the 22nd August 1915 any myths  or notions they may have had about war were completely shattered in a battle for Hill 60 (Kaiajik Aghala).  Within a few hours the 18th had lost 11 officers and 372 men of whom approx. half had been killed in action.  Cork received a GSW to the scalp (a gun shot wound described a wound from a bullet/round or from shrapnel or shell fragments).  He was sent back to No 1 Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis, Egypt (located at Luna Park) when he had recovered he returned to Gallipoli….he left the battlefield a couple of more times with trench feet/foot and rheumatism from the cold, wet, miserable life in the trenches.

 Western Front France:                                                                Three months after their return to Egypt from the evacuation of Gallipoli the 18th Battalion set sail again, this time for the Western Front. They arrived in France on the 25th March 2016 and moved to the front line in April.  Although Cork was still in the 18th at some point he was transferred to a Bombing Platoon.  A bombing party consisted of two throwers, two carriers, two defenders, two spare soldiers in case of casualties and a NCO.  Cork being a big strong bloke was selected as a thrower.

On the night of the 26th/27th July 2016 he was at Pozieres in or near Munster Alley/OG1 & 2. It is said that, “The northern half of O.G.2 was left crowded with the dead and dying. The enemy's endeavour to retake his ground in 0.G.trenches led to one of he most desperate bomb or grenade fights in the history of the A.1.F.” …. approx. 15 000 grenades or Mills bombs were thrown by the Australians and British alone. 

As they were going into battle his mate said something along the lines of, “I’m gunna stick with you Cork cause you’re a lucky ‘B’ and you’re unsinkable mate!  On this night they did stick together.  The German snipers shot at the hands of the bombers…. Both Cork’s hands received gun shot wounds so I can only assume that he was throwing with his right hand and it was shot but he bandaged it and he kept throwing with his left hand…that was shot too but in this horrendous fight for his/their lives he kept throwing. …then he was critically wounded from a bomb blast – his right foot/lower leg were blown off, shrapnel shattered in his throat and chest and a piece went through the photo of Grace and his baby and lodged near his heart.   I was told that he was moved to the side and put in the pile of dead bodies (obviously presumed dead) he was left on the battlefield for approximately 2 days before being found on the 29th.  As luck would have it he groaned as someone was walking past.  He was given a drink of water but the water poured back out through the hole in his throat.   Once again he was lucky but unfortunately his mate didn’t have the same luck as he was killed.  I wonder who really was the lucky one as sometimes there are worse things than dying.

My Grandmother, Grace received a letter from Horace’s platoon commander informing her that her husband had died in battle and told her how they buried him according to the rights of his church and an Army Chaplain conducted the service.  The letter was dated the 14/8/1916 so he was obviously unaware that Horace was still alive.  She would have been devastated.  

Cork was in a bad way; due to injuries to his throat he was unable to speak and was also unable to write due to the GSW to his hands and so Grace didn’t know that he was still alive and I can only assume he didn’t know that Grace had been told he died. (see letter below)

Cork was transferred via aide stations and hospital ship to the Royal Herbert Hospital in England where his physical injuries were treated including having his right leg amputated.   The doctors decided to leave the shrapnel that was near his heart in situ, as it was thought too dangerous to operate.  He was told due to his injuries he would have a short life and only live for a couple of years.

During his time in England he was transferred to several hospital to recuperate….after a year he seemed to be recuperating quite well because he went on a furlough for 2 weeks (a ‘furlo’ is written in his records)…I don’t know where he went on his furlough or who he went with or what he did but I have a fair idea he got up to a bit of mischief and had fun…. because shortly after his return he went AWL for several days.  He disappeared at approximately 10 o’clock at night and on his return he was admonished and fined 3 days pay  …water off a ducks back because about a month later he left again, once again at 10pm but this time he went for 5 days and once again he was admonished but this time fined 6 days pay. 

Perhaps it was thought if he was well enough to get up to mischief he was well enough to be sent back to Australia.   He returned on the Hospital Ship Kanowna and disembarked in Sydney on 15th Feb 1918.  My father tells the story that his wife Grace had a breakdown when Horace knocked on the door on his arrival home as she thought he had died almost 2yrs earlier.  My Aunty tells a different version…. she tells that a nurse wrote to Grace and told her Horace was in fact alive and recuperating in England.   

After the War:                                                                          Horace and Grace raised 8 kids and Horace although only thought to live a couple of more years, died several years after Grace, at 71yrs of age of a heart attack.  One of their children was born severely intellectually impaired which was attributed to the stress of both parents after the war.

Horace didn’t like to talk about his time in the war and didn’t march on ANZAC Day.   He told my father that if he ever joined the Army, to go off to war, that he would kill him and save him a whole lot of misery.

I remember Grandad as a big, gentle and generous, old man who would stick up for us kids.  As a young child I was terrified to look into his bedroom because hanging on the wall, near his bed, was an artificial leg, obviously not the one he was using.  I don’t know why that leg scared me so.  Grandad died when I was a little girl.  It’s a shame he wasn’t around when I was older so I could find out the answers to the many questions I have about his life and if I could prize it from him his time in the war.  I would love to give him a big cuddle and tell him how proud I am of him and to thank him for his service. 

I can’t listen to Eric Boggle sing, ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda‘, without crying because that song is a version of Horace’s story.

Horace was awarded 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal also the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion.  His name is one of the three hundred and fifty that is engraved on the Strathfield War Memorial Roll of Honour. 

It is a privilege to be able to share part of Horace’s story with you at this time (the night of 26th July - 100yrs since that fateful night), the Centenary of the Battle of Pozieres.  Lest We Forget.