Walter Ernest POTTER

Walter Ernest POTTER Update Details

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POTTER, Walter Ernest

Service Number:	3395
Enlisted:	17 August 1915, Warwick Farm, NSW
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	53rd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Roydon, Norfolk, England, 19 April 1890
Home Town:	Sutherland, Sutherland Shire, New South Wales
Schooling:	County Council School, England
Occupation:	Fuelman
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 26 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Sutherland Memorial School of Arts Honour Roll, Sutherland WW1 Memorial Wall, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Waterfall Roll of Honor

World War 1 Service

17 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3395, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Warwick Farm, NSW
2 Nov 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3395, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: ''
2 Nov 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3395, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney
16 Feb 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 53rd Infantry Battalion
19 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3395, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)

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Biography contributed by John Oakes

Walter Ernest POTTER (Service Number 3395) was born on 19th April 1890 at Raydon, Norfolk, England. He first worked for the NSW Government Railways as a labourer in the Locomotive Branch at Eveleigh Locomotive Depot from 18th February 1914. On 1st December 1915 he was relocated to Waterfall Locomotive Depot, although he had joined the Expeditionary Forces on 5th August. He enlisted at Warwick Farm that same day stating his job in the Railways as a ‘Fuelman’. He was unmarried and gave his father living in Norfolk as his next of kin.

He was allotted to the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion. He embarked HMAT ‘Euripides’ at Sydney on 2nd November 1915. He reached Egypt early in 1916 and was attached to the 1st Training Battalion until he was taken on the strength of the 53rd Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 16th February. In June he embarked HMAT ‘Royal George’ at Alexandria for passage through Marseilles, which he transited on 28th June on the way to the Western Front in Fance.

Potter was posted missing in action on 19th July 1916 – the ominous date of the Battle of Fromelles. A Court of Enquiry held on 1st September1917 determined that he had in fact been killed in action that day. He has no known grave. He is remembered at the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France.

- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.

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