WALKER, John Preston
| Service Number: | 1825 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 January 1915, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brighton, Victoria, 16 May 1892 |
| Home Town: | Dandenong, Greater Dandenong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne C of E Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Law student |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozières, France, 27 July 1916, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" No known grave, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Dandenong Shire Roll of Honour, Dandenong St James' Anglican Church Roll of Honour, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1825, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1825, 8th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Apr 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1825, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 26 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1825, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 2 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 27 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1825, 8th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1825 awm_unit: 8 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1916-07-27 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
JOHN PRESTON WALKER who was killed in action at Pozieres on 27th July 1916 was the son of Mr. W. H. Walker. He was born in 1893 and entered the School in 1906. He was a Prefect and captain of the cricket eleven in 1909 and in the football eighteen in 1908 and 1909. At the Combined Sports in 1906 he tied with Dennis Lawrence (No. 3542 on School Roll) for the high jump under 14, both clearing 4 ft. 5 in.
On leaving School in 1909 he commenced his studies in Law. He was a splendid fellow and an excellent athlete. He played Pennant cricket with the East Melbourne first eleven and represented St. Kilda in League football.
He enlisted in January and embarked in April 1915 and was for five months at Anzac. He subsequently went to France with promotion to Sergeant in the 8th Battalion and was killed in the Battle of Pozieres. The Captain and Adjutant of his battalion, in reporting his death, wrote: " With regret I have to inform you that this N.C.O. was killed in action at Pozieres on 27th July. He undoubtedly would have been the first to be promoted to commissioned rank." Those who knew Jack Walker would realise that whatever he did would command his best.
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