Edward James WALKER

WALKER, Edward James

Service Number: 1608
Enlisted: 6 March 1916
Last Rank: Company Sergeant Major
Last Unit: 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Born: Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia, 19 March 1889
Home Town: Northcote, Darebin, Victoria
Schooling: Northcote State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Carpenter
Died: Pneumonia, Military Hospital, Fargo, Wiltshire, England , United Kingdom, 4 March 1917, aged 27 years
Cemetery: Risca Old Cemetery
Risca Cemetery (Row C, Grave 217), Monmouthshire, Wales., Risca Old Cemetery, Risca, Wales, United Kingdom
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Northcote Presbyterian Cricket Club Roll of Honor, Northcote Presbyterian Roll of Honor
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

6 Mar 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1608, 3rd Pioneer Battalion
1 Apr 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3rd Pioneer Battalion
6 Jun 1916: Involvement Private, 1608, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: ''
6 Jun 1916: Embarked Private, 1608, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne
1 Mar 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 3rd Pioneer Battalion
4 Mar 1917: Involvement 1608, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1608 awm_unit: 3 Pioneer Battalion awm_rank: Company Quartermaster Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-03-04

Help us honour Edward James Walker's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 4th March.... Edward James Walker was born at Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia in 1889. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 24th January, 1916 as a 26 year old, single, Carpenter from Northcote, Victoria.

Private Walker was promoted to Corporal on 1st April, 1916 while posted with 1st reinforcements, 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion.

Edward James Walker married Dorothea Frances Ellen Austin on 8th April, 1916.

Corporal Edward James Walker embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Wandilla (A62) on 6th June, 1916 & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 26th July, 1916 where he would receive further training before being sent to the War Front.

Corporal Edward James Walker was posted as Acting Corporal on 27th July, 1916 & was to receive Corporal’s pay.

Acting Corporal Edward James Walker was to be Temporary Company Quartermaster Sergeant from 19th August, 1916 as Permanent Cadre with Pioneer Training Battalion at Larkhill, Wiltshire.
Temporary Company Quartermaster Sergeant Edward James Walker was to be Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant with Sergeant’s extra duty pay from 16th November, 1916.

Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant Edward James Walker was sent sick to Fargo Military Hospital, Wiltshire on 16th February, 1917 from 3rd Pioneer Training Battalion at Larkhill, Wiltshire. He was admitted with Pneumonia (severe) on 19th February, 1917.

Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant Edward James Walker died at 8.15 pm on 4th March, 1917 at Military Hospital, Fargo, Wiltshire, England from Pneumonia.

Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant Edward James Walker was buried on 10th March, 1917 in Risca Old Cemetery, Risca, Monmouthshire, Wales – Plot number C. 217. (Family Grave) and has a Private Headstone which was erected by the Sergeants of the Pioneer Training Battalion, A.I.F. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

From the Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Company Quartermaster Sergeant Edward James Walker - E. M. Bowes, Assistant Matron, Fargo Military Hospital, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England wrote: “He was admitted on Feb. 16th. He was very ill from the day of admission but we were in hopes of his recovering. The last 2 or 3 days however he got very much worse and died of pneumonia on 4th March. His body was sent to his uncle. H. J. Walker, 4 Tregegar Tce., Risca, Newport, Monmouth. Q.M.S. Walker’s aunt came down to see him just a few days before he died and I understand she has written to his relatives in Melbourne. Please convey to his wife our sincere sympathy.”

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/risca.html

Read more...