MEURANT, Walter
| Service Number: | 1097 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 March 1915, Liverpool |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 14th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Mount Victoria, New South Wales, Australia, 22 July 1889 |
| Home Town: | Mount Victoria, Blue Mountains Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Mount Victoria Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Fettler |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 3 August 1917, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery IV. B. 5. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Mount Victoria War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1097, Liverpool | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 1097, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Chilka embarkation_ship_number: A51 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 1097, 6th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Chilka, Sydney | |
| 3 Aug 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 1097, 14th Field Artillery Brigade , Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1097 awm_unit: 14 Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1917-08-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Walter MEURANT (Service Number 1097) was born on 21st July 1889 in Mount Victoria. He began working with the Railways on 10th November 1913 as a packer in the Permanent Way Branch in the Metropolitan Division. By September of the following year, he was working as a fettler (track worker). He remained in that role until 5th March 1915 when he was granted leave to join the AIF. He was 25 when he enlisted. He embarked from Sydney on 7th June 1915 on HMAT A51 ‘Chilka’. On 2nd October 1915, he was taken on the strength of the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment at Anzac Cove.
By December 1915, he was in Alexandria (Egypt). On 28th January 1916, he was found to be Absent Without Leave. he was punished with seven days of confinement to barracks. He was in Maadi at this time. A few days later, on 2nd February, he was sent to hospital sick. At first, he could not be diagnosed, but on 11th February, he was admitted for keloids in Montazah. By 18th March 1916, he re-joined his unit. On 29th March, he was posted to the 60th Battery and appointed to the position of Gunner in Tel-el-Kebir.
He proceeded overseas from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Forces on 17th June 1916. He disembarked at Marseilles a few days later on 26th June and transferred to the 25th Field Artillery Brigade. In January 1917 he was granted leave to England and he re-joined his Battalion on 15th February.
Six months later, on 3rd August 1917, he was wounded in action with multiple gunshot injuries in his head, arms, and abdomen. He was admitted to the 46th Field Ambulance for these wounds but he died of them on the same day.
One eyewitness account of his death says:
‘… we… were obliged to man the guns during a very heavy shell burst in front and he was wounded in many places and was unconscious when picked up immediately after’.
He was 28 when he died, and he was buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Brandhoek, Flanders, Belgium.
His mother was forwarded some of his personal items after his death, including letters, cards, photos, badges, and a metal watch. She was also sent the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal in honour of his service.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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