Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard River WALKER #4907 9th/25th Battalion

Richard “Dick” Walker was born at Stanley River to Thomas and Jane Walker. He attended school at Stanley River and Kilcoy.

The official records are rather confusing regarding Dick’s enlistment but it would appear that he enlisted twice, once on 11th August 1915 when he claimed to be 18 years and 7 months old, and again 12th August 1915 when he gave his age as 19 years and 1 month. In fact neither age given was correct and one set of attestation papers show a correction to 17 years and 8 months. He was given two service numbers but for most of his service, he used the number 4907. The embarkation roll for the 7th reinforcements of the 25th Battalion lists a Walker R.R. as part of the group who departed Brisbane on 30th December 1915 but this cannot be correct as he is listed as being on the embarkation roll for the 15th reinforcements of the 9th Battalion in March of 1916

Dick gave his occupation as labourer but his father when completing the Roll of Honour Circular said he was a horse breaker. He named his father as next of kin and made out a will with solicitors in Brisbane before departure for overseas

Dick embarked on the “Commonwealth” in Brisbane on 28th March 1916 as part of the 15th reinforcements of the 9th Battalion and was marched into a training battalion in England after his arrival there. By October 1916, Dick was making his way to his unit via the large transit camp at Etaples on the French coast when he fell foul of the red caps (Military Police) by giving a false name. He was fined 10 days pay. While still at Etaples, Dick was transferred to the 25th Battalion, the battalion he had originally attempted to join in 1915.

Soon after joining the 25th, Dick went AWL. He was fined several days pay and returned to the trenches. On 20th January 1917, Dick reported sick with trench feet. He was repatriated back to England where he spent several months in hospital. On 30th May, while still in hospital, Dick was charged with being drunk and admonished by the Officer in charge.

After discharge from hospital in July 1917, Dick was granted a two week furlough. When challenged by the MPs, he gave a false address and was sentenced to field punishment #2 and loss of 25 day’s pay. On 29th October 1917, Dick transferred back to the 9th Battalion which was in a rest camp in Belgium.

The 9th Battalion was manning the support tranches at Warneton in January 1918 when Dick received a shrapnel wound to the chest from an artillery shell. He was transported by ambulance train to the 8th Stationary Hospital at Wimereux on the French coast before being taken by hospital ship to Harefield Hospital near Birmingham. After two months recuperation, Dick re-crossed the English Channel to rejoin the 9th.

By the time that Dick had been taken on strength by his battalion, the German spring offensive of 1918 had begun. The 9th Battalion and the rest of the 1st Division AIF were tasked with meeting any advance in the area of the French Belgian border near Armentieres. Dick was seconded to 1st Division Headquarters for a week in June. His records indicate A.P.M. If this was the Assistant Provost Marshall, it may have been a case of poacher turned game keeper!

Having weathered the initial German assaults in March of 1918, the tables had turned in favour of the British. On 19th July, the 9th Battalion was tasked with capturing several lines of enemy trenches. Witnesses stated that Dick Walker was carrying panniers of machine gun ammunition for advancing Lewis gun crews when a high explosive shell landed under him, igniting the drums of ammunition. Dick was killed instantly.

Richard Walker was buried in the British Cemetery at Borre outside Hazebrouck. His headstone includes these words: IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON AND BROTHER DICK AGED 20 YEARS.