WALKER, Kenneth Leigh
| Service Number: | 438 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Essendon, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Thomas' Grammar School, Essendon, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm hand |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Gallipoli - At sea (HS Gascon), 12 July 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at Sea |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 438, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 438, 7th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 438, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 12 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1915-07-12 |
Extract from “Pompey Elliott” by Ross McMullan
Colonel Elliott wrote: “Ken Walker was always the first to lead a party to the rescue of those buried in the trenches, not once but dozens of times. For a long time he was fortunate, I often saw him with his face set and pale but never shrinking. At last three or four nights ago a fragment of shell went straight through his body. Our Doctor did not give any hope of his being saved at all but news of his death has not reached me, so I am beginning to hope against hope for it was a frightful wound and the poor boy bore it without a murmur.” (P. 148)
Submitted 20 August 2022 by Andrew Smith
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Charles Arthur Walker and Alice Barker of 18 Combermere Street, Essendon; brother of Charles R. Walker, Freda Carol Walker, Gladys Audrey Walker and Doris Alma Walker
Left Australia with 1st Exp. Force as Private. Promoted to L'Cpl during voyage to Egypt and became a Corpporal in Egypt and later a Sergeant.
On 25 April 1915 took part in landing at Gallipoli and was wounded on that date. He was invalided to Egypt, returned to Gallipoli shortly afterwards and was promoted 2nd Lieut on gallantry on the field.
He was fatally wounded on 11th July 1915 whilst rescuing comrades who had been buried by falling parapets. He died of wounds the following day while on board H.M.H.S Gascon and was buried at sea off Gaba Tepe.
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
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