S22823
WALKER, Robert
| Service Number: | 4593 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Coatbridge Scotland, April 1891 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Conductor |
| Died: | April 1891, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Scots Church WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4593, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Feb 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4593, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Adelaide | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4593, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 4593, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 48th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
Help us honour Robert Walker's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Robert Walker was born in April 1891 in Coatbridge, Scotland, before migrating to Adelaide, South Australia. Before the Great War, he worked as a tram conductor, collecting and issuing tickets to the public—a job far removed from the intensity and horrors of the Western Front. Records show he led a simple, unmarried life, with no previous military experience. His mother, Esebelle Walker, remained in Scotland. On May 21, 1915, Robert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Adelaide (NAA, N.D.). After medical and personal assessments, he was officially enlisted on September 6th, 1915, joining the 10th Battalion.
On February 7, 1916, Robert Walker embarked on the HMAT A28 Miltiades, originally assigned to the 14th Reinforcement of the 10th Battalion (VWMA, N.D). The ship transported soldiers from across Australia to Suez, Egypt, where the AIF trained new recruits and hosted the 10th Battalion. Arriving at Suez on March 11, 1916, Robert was taken on strength by the 48th Battalion, as the 10th Battalion had evacuated from Gallipoli. The 48th Battalion was made up of veterans from the 16th Battalion and new recruits like Robert, followed the AIF's "Doubling" tactic to increase the strength of forces.
After training in Egypt, Robert and the 48th Battalion were transported to France, where he spent the next few years fighting with French, British and other ANZAC soldiers. Their first camp was in Etaples, a key transportation and medical town in France (AWM, N.D.).
In August 1916, the 48th Battalion was deployed to Pozieres. This torturous fight involved constant bombardments and machine-gun fire (AWM, accessed 19/9/24).
On June 19, 1917, while serving on the front lines, Robert was wounded by enemy gunfire, acquiring serious injuries to his left arm and right thumb through gunshots (SLSA, accessed 20/9/24). He was immediately evacuated from the battlefield, first to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance and later to the 3rd Stationary Hospital, where his family was notified of his condition. His injuries included a fractured thumb and a compound fracture in his humerus, which required him to be transferred to Beaufort War Hospital in Fishponds, Bristol.
Robert’s time in the hospital was steadily progressing with improvement. By August 2, 1917, he was reported to be “progressing quite satisfactorily.” His recovered from his injuries and was returned to Australia in 1919 on HMHS Margha. Robert was awarded the 1914-15 Star Medal, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. These medals presented to him show the appreciation for his brave service and sacrifice which made a significant effect in the war.
Bibliography
Vwma.org.au. (2017). 10th Infantry Battalion. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/1.
Adfa.edu.au. (2024). Details. [online] Available at: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=311170 [Accessed 19 Sep. 2024].
Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3005157&S=1 [Accessed 22 Sep. 2024].
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84338.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (2024). First World War Battles of Bullecourt, 1917. [online] Available at: https://www.dva.gov.au/media/media-backgrounders/first-world-war-battles-bullecourt-1917.
Awm.gov.au. (2016). | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51488.
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51450.
https://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/sarcib/SRG76_1_6290.pdf
Australian War Memorial (2013). Enlistment statistics, First World War | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/enlistment/ww1.