Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William suffered severe shell shock during the Battle of Pozieres and he was sent to a hospital in Rouen France on 26 July 1916. He was released to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples in France five days later. He went absent without leave for a day and was punished with 28 days confinement to camp. On 27 August 1916 he went absent without leave until found and captured by the Military Police in Etaples almost a month later on 23 September 1916. For this he was sentenced at a Court Martial to 5 years of penal servitude. This was reduced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour shortly after. He was jailed in Rouen. He was released from Military Prison on the 20 October 1917, sent to join his unit and the remainder of his sentence was suspended. He was wounded in action on the 14 April 1918, a gunshot or shrapnel wound to the thigh and died of his wounds two days later in the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station.

Tocumwal Guardian 10 May 1918.

'Died of Wounds. The sad news was received here last week that Private W. W. Walker, had died of wounds; received on the Western front, on 16 April 1918. Private Walker was an ex-Tocumwal resident, coming to this town when 16 years of age. It was here he learnt his trade as hairdresser, and for a time was conducting the Tocumwal Hairdressing Saloon. He was very popular in this and surrounding districts and the news of his death was received with general regret. He was married; and leaves a wife and three children to mourn his loss, to whom general sympathy is extended in their sad bereavement.'