Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walter's family emigrated from Whitby, Yorkshire to Melbourne in 1890 when he was 12 months old. His father, an engineer, settled the family in Flemington where he attended Flemington State School. Walter must have been interested in a military life as his enlistment papers records that he spent 2 years in the senior cadets and 2 years in the light horse. Walter was a coach trimmer by trade and moved to Yarrawonga for work where he most likely was in the light horse with future brother in laws. He must have been very patriotic because when war was declared he promptly returned to Melbourne and enlisted at Essendon on 17th August 1914, regimental # 417.

Walter became part of the 7th Battalion A.I.F. under Pompey Elliott. Unfortunately his experience in war proved to be sobering. He survived the early morning landing on the 25th but was wounded and evacuated after the second battle of Krithia. After recovery from his gunshot wound he was promoted to corporal and returned for Lone Pine. His future medical records from Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital (in the 1920s) give an insight into his war experiences at Gallipoli. 

"Cardiac insufficiency since shell explosion at Gallipoli. Patient has felt nervous, heart unstable and is easily affected by slight exertion.  Shell shock following being buried by earth after a shell exploded next to him on 01 Sep 1915. His face swelled up on right side in late September before evacuation. He was partly buried several times, hit on left part of face after one explosion and was deaf in the left ear for a week. Suffers from intense headaches across eyes and behind head, especially when exposed to the sun. Heart is weak and distant, murmurs at times. It becomes irregular after slight exertion. He is unable to stand for long periods of time due to leg wound."

Future generations of Walter are appreciative of his time recuperating in England in late 1915. He visited family in South Shields and Stockton where many photos have survived of Walter with female cousins and others. He must have been an entertaining character as these postcards from 'female cousins' were forwarded back to Australia and provide a brief happy glimpse into the life of a young soldier on leave. 

Reptriated back to Australia, Walter achieved the rank of lieutenant and served as an area officer for Abbotsford  from February 1917 until June 1919.

Walter married his prewar sweetheart from Yarrawonga and they two sons and a daughter but life in the late twenties and early thirties was difficult as his health further deteriorated.