John Preston (Jack) WALKER

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)
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Biography 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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