Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walton (Wally) was born in the Adelaide suburb of Rose Park on the 11th September, 1915, the only son of Walton Alfric and Elizabeth Mary Walton.
Wally married Edna Elizabeth Cassidy on the 3rd February 1940 at Colonel Light Gardens Methodist Church in an evening ceremony. One of his groomsmen was good friend, John Miller, with whom Wally would later enlist. The wedding ceremony was reported in the News on the Saturday of the wedding. Within four months and the intensifying of WWII, as a 24-year-old, Wally enlisted on the 1st July ’40. He was given the number SX7338. Similarly, his groomsman, John Miller enlisted with the two ensuring that both were allocated to the same Battalion, the newly formed 2/48th. John’s number was SX7343. Wally nominated his new wife, Edna Pryor as his next of kin. Whilst on pre-embarkation leave, Private John Miller became engaged to Rose During from Evandale.
Initial days of enlistment were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before Wally and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training.
During his pre-embarkation leave, Wally and Edna welcomed the first of their three sons, William (Bill) who was born in October. (He was later to become a minister of religion.) Just days later, Wally and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. His 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before going to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees.
The two, Wally and John also formed a close bond with Lionel Van der Brik (Vandy) SX7279 and Frederick MacNamara (Maccy) SX7279. 23-year-old Lionel and 27-year-old Frederick were killed in action on the 17th April, 1941 during ferocious fight to retain Hill 209. They were part of the group subjected to ‘intense mortar, machine gun and artillery fire, necessitation the evacuation of the observation post and forcing B Company to keep under cover. Privates L.H. Van den Brink and F. McNamara were killed instantly when a mortar bomb made a direct hit.’ This loss was very personal to John and Wally who posted a tribute to their friends:
Advertiser Friday 17 April 1942, MacNAMARA.—VAN DEN BRINK. —In memory of our pals, Maccy and Vandy, killed in action at Tobruk, on April 17 1941. —Always remembered by their pals, Wally Pryor and Johnnie Miller. A.I.F. abroad.

Wally’s leadership quickly became evident with him being promoted to Sergeant and in this role, in May ’41 he led a night patrol of 10 Platoon to Forbes Mound which he found was being used during the daytime as an observation post. This intelligence was rapidly utilised and nullified.

The following month, Wally oversaw the 10 Platoon of B Company at Post S9. Initially taking over from the 2/1st Pioneers, Wally is recorded in John Glenn’s Tobruk to Tarakan as thinking “the place had been over-emphasized, but we soon changed our minds.”
“It was on the third day of holding this post that a very fine soldier, Corporal Arvel Todd was killed by mortar fire by one of those million to one chances that happen in war.” Arvel was relieving another soldier and “was returning down the concrete trench when a mortar broke through the flimsy covering and landed at his feet. He was severely wounded and later died.”

Conditions continued to be tough. John Glenn records a further incident relayed by Sergeant Wally Prior where 10 Platoon attacked and eliminated a sniper’s post which “apparently upset the Germans, for they bombarded us with mortar and artillery in the heaviest artillery bombardment I have seen. The concrete of the pit became a shambles and we had no option but to withdraw to the underground room. The bombardment lasted for an hour and three-quarters, and the remaining posts were lifted out of the ground. The noise was terrific. Great pieces of cement and dirt filled the entrance to the bomb-proof shelter, blocking us in so that we were soon suffering from lack of air. Still the earth shook as shell after shell fell on the post and filled the air with dust and the smell of cordite. We dipped towels in the reserve water and in pitch darkness wrapped them round our faces and waited, for what seemed like hours, for the shelling to stop. By another strange coincidence one of the last shells to land on the remains of Post S9 freed the entrance and allowed the light and air to come in. Among those in the post with me were Johnnie Miller, Wally Davis, Harry Davis, Roy Weir and Harold Gogel.”

The conflict continued, as did Wally’s concern for the men with whom he led and fought. During September ’41 on hearing that Doc Francis was wounded and still in the field, Sergeant Wally and others went out and carried him back before then attempting to bring in a trailer of food and ammunition supplies. Continuing to persist, Wally finally succeeded bringing the trailer in.

Three months after the deaths of Maccy and Vandy and just over two years after enlisting, Wally’s close friend, John was killed in action on the 22nd July, 1942. He was 27 years old. The battalion was attempting to capture West Point in a dawn attack. John G. Glenn again describes the ferocious encounter;
‘When the troops were well forward of the start-line they came under terrific fire from shells and mortars from the front and left and suffered heavy casualties. With the slow deliberate movement of perfectly trained soldiers both companies continued the advance in perfect formation, over ground that trembled and erupted with vicious explosions. Through this, sometimes obscured by the smoke and dust, the men moved, and, as they advanced, the fire kept place with them, leaving behind the still shapes of fallen men among the camel bush and sand.’ Initially the men were buried in the field.
Wally and his family again grieved the loss of a good friend and fine soldier in the ensuing years.
Advertiser Thursday 22 July 1943, MILLER.—In memory of Johnnie, killed in action July 22. 1942. Amidst the din of battle of deadly war and strife he nobly did his duty and gave his life.— Inserted by pal Wally Pryor. A.I.F. MILLER —in loving memory of Johnny, who was killed in action on July 22. 1942. Deep in our hearts a memory is kept of one we will never forget. —lnserted by Lieut. Pryor, Edna, Billy. MILLER in memory of Johnnie, killed in action July 22. 1942. Not just today, but every day. in silence we remember. —lnserted by Mrs. Pryor and Nell.
Advertiser, Saturday 22 July 1944, MILLER.—In memory of Johnnie, Killed in action July 22. 1942. He died as he lived, a soldier and a man. —Remembered always by your pal Wally Pryor, Lieut. ret. MILLER.—In memory of Johnnie, killed in action. July 22. 1942. life moves on, but memory clings forever. — Remembered always by Mrs. Pryor and Nell.

The same month John was killed, July ’42, Wally received orders to capture West Point 24 of Tel el Eisa. Several casualties eventuated meaning that Sergeant Prior ‘took over command of B Company, and the advance continued into intense fire until all troops were forced to ground within two hundred yards of the enemy post. The slightest movement brought down heavy machine-gun fire on them.’ It was here that Private Stan Gurney was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross for his incredible bravery in storming three German posts.
Later in that battle John Glenn records that:
‘For fourteen hours these men had been lying out in terribly exposed positions, pinned down, with the fearful heat adding to their difficulties. Sergeant Wally Prior had now assumed command of B Company, Captain Kimber company commander, having been wounded.’
“Pryor had led the company forward in the face of intense fire and had organised and controlled their operations. All through that day until eight o’clock they had withstood all efforts by the enemy to dislodge them, and it was not until dusk, when enemy movements indicated that the small force would soon be surrounded, that Pryor gave the order to withdraw. The company fought its way back, carrying the wounded with them. When met by A Company, B Company had an effective strength of only fifteen men. For his conduct, Sergeant Pryor was awarded a well-deserved Distinguished Conduct Medal.’
A formal announcement of Wally’s award and that of others’ was made in September ’42 to members of the A.I.F. for gallantry in action in the Western Desert. Many were awarded to members of the 2/48th Battalion. They included Military Cross. - SX10317 Capt. Colin Frank Williams 2/48th Military Medal.— SX7996 Sgt. Colin Roger Jacka 2/48th SX7808 Sgt. Jack Keith Weston (D.C.M.) 2/48th SX7338 Sgt. Walter Edward Pryor 2/48th and SX1C57O Pte. Herbert Hector Ashby 2/48th
Two years later, in May ’44, Wally was interviewed by the News regarding Lord Haw-Haw’s trial for treason. He commented that Lord Haw-Haw “once did the A.I.F. 9th Division a good turn quite unintentionally. When talking to Lieut. W. E. Pryor, of Colonel Light Gardens today, he mentioned that it was Lord Haw-Haw who gave the Australians in Tobruk the famous nickname "Rats of Tobruk." Lord Haw-Haw didn't mean it as a compliment. but Lieut. Pryor, who was wounded during the siege, and other Australians serving there, liked the name. The boys of the Second 48th Battalion found the name a great morale builder, and today the survivors are proud to use the term.”
The respect in which Wally was held was evident in his being asked to act as ‘best man’ for several of the men with whom he served. These included the marriage of Lieutenant Murray Frederick Farquhar, A.I.F., returned, of Broken Hill, when he married Dorothy Hunt at Scots Church, North Terrace in December ‘44. Lieutenant W. E. Pryor, D.C.M., was best man, and Lieutenant T. O. Derrick, V.C., D.C.M., groomsman.
It was Farquhar in his early book, Derrick VC who made the observation that “In Tobruk some men had become legendary” and listed Wally with Tex Weston, Ron Beer and Diver Derrick. He later recounted an incident where a four-day exercise was planned by brigade staff for each battalion in the mountains out of Tripoli. The 2/48th was the last to tackle the exercise. Wal well remembered “In the final clamber up Tourbol, we were all exhausted. Nerves were frayed. Muscles screamed. Only pride kept us moving. Every upward step was a nightmare.”
Wally was also instrumental in the marriage ceremony of Lieutenant Ken Richardson who had Captain Pryor D.C.M. as his groomsman and Captain C.R. Richmond as his best man when he married in April ’46.

Wally survived the war and was finally discharged in February ’47, having welcomed two more sons, Kenneth (Ken) Maxwell (July ’46) when he was officially Captain Pryor, and Walton Leslie in ’44.

In what should have been a more peaceful time of his life, Wally and Edna inexplicably lost their youngest son, Walton Leslie, named after his Dad, on the 20th June ’49. Walton was 4 years and five months old when Edna found him unresponsive in his bassinet in the morning. He was buried at Centennial Park. The family, and especially Wally who had seen so much loss of life in the past years, paid tribute to him with the blessing that he was ‘Another little bud to bloom in heaven.‘
Only 43, Edna died in December ’63 and was also buried in Centennial Park, with her older parents being buried with her in the ‘80s.

Aged 72, Wally died on the 23rd September 1987. He is buried in the Dudley Park Cemetery, with his full rank of Captain and acknowledgement of his Distinguished Conduct Medal and the ‘T’ symbol proudly etched in the corner. His second wife, Iris also rests with him.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion