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WALTER, Francis Bernard
| Service Number: | 6123 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 January 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Laura, South Australia, 9 June 1893 |
| Home Town: | Laura, Northern Areas, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Port Pirie, South Australia, 25 July 1964, aged 71 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Pirie General Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Laura District Honour Roll, Laura Public School Roll of Honour, Laura RSL Members WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6123, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6123, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6123, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 27 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 6123, 10th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Francis Bernard Walter's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Francis Bernard Walters was born on the 9th day of June 1893 in the country town of Laura, South Australia. He grew up as a Baptist with a brother Stan, father J.P Walter and Mother L.L Walter. He had a dark complextion with black hair and blue eyes. He was 177 Centimetres tall and was 68 kilograms. He enlisted in the war on the 28th January 1915 in Keswick and was single at the time and worked on his father’s farm. (His dad was also a farmer). On the 30th of September 1916, he sailed over to England on “The Ballarat” and arrived on the 7th of October 1916; his records do not explain this long delay. He proceeded to Sutton Veny to start training. A month later he left England from South Hampton and arrived in Havre, France. He battled for 12 days until he had a debility which set him out of the war. He was sent to a hospital in Boulogne in the North of France. He left hospital on the 7th of December 1917. On the 16th of January 2018, he proceeded back to the unit. He was with his unit in France from January to November 1918, and on the 30th of April 1919, he went on leave to Paris. On the 9th of may he re-joined from leave. He then proceeded to England where he went on the ship “Demontheses” back to Australia. In the time of his service he got married to Doris Eveline Vincent in the Upper Holloway Chapel in London. She was 18 and her dad’s name was George Vincent. He then lived an enjoyable life till it was ended by natural causes on the 25th of June 1964, aged 71. His grave is in the Port Pire Cemetery and will be remembered as a brave, courageous and patriotic man.
ANZAC spirit
The term “ANZAC Spirit” refers to the qualities displayed in those who fought in the battlefields: endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, larrikinism, determination and mateship. Francis Bernard Walter displayed all of these characteristics. Simply joining the AIF is a true sacrifice and example of one who reflects the ANZAC Spirit. His audacity to put his life on the line to help support his country is true patriotism towards the nation. During his time in the North of France, Francis was set back with a debility which made him go to a hospital. He stayed in a hospital in Boulogne, France for 1 month. Once he recovered he returned straight back to the unit and fought for over a year. This is a true show of resilience, determination and bravery and display the ANZAC spirit.
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