KNIGHT, Walter Edward
Service Number: | QX13148 |
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Enlisted: | 28 June 1940 |
Last Rank: | Private |
Last Unit: | 2nd/25th Infantry Battalion |
Born: | Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia, 5 January 1918 |
Home Town: | Coonabarabran, Warrumbungle Shire, New South Wales |
Schooling: | Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupation: | Baker |
Died: | Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia, 8 October 1995, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
Cemetery: |
Coonabarabran General Cemetery, New South Wales Church Of England Cemetery |
Memorials: |
Biography contributed by Mick Estens
On ANZAC Day 1942, Corporal Wally Knight was standing at attention for an inspection and March Past of the 2/25 Battalion AIF in front of Brigadier General Lord Gowrie VC. Being in a large parade was not new to Wally as his Battalion was inspected overseas by French General Charles De Gaulle in Syria, leader of Free France and Wally was in the Guard of Honour. The Coonabarabran born Wally had enlisted at Mackay in Queensland June 1940.
He was trained in Qld and sent on Garrison Duties in Darwin. Was posted back to Brisbane then by train to Sydney to embark on the “Queen Mary” to the Middle East. Wally’s Battalion moved through Egypt and Libya to Palestine and on to the invasion of Syria and Lebanon in combat with German and Vichy French military. The most mentally and physical challenge to Wally was coming up shortly when being sent to New Guinea as the Japanese forces had come right down the Kokoda Track towards Port Moresby. Darwin had already suffered multiply Japanese bombings.
A transport ship took Wally to Port Moresby but pulled into Townsville for two days. Wally had a good time went absent without leave with his mates and was fined 6 shillings the next day before boarding the ship. Wally’s unit was to take part in the last Australian withdrawal then the push back of Japanese troops along the Kokoda Track. Wally experienced the climb at what was called ‘The Golden Staircase’ by Aussie diggers. The staircase was a sharp climb that rose 365 metres and had 2000 steps carved in by Army Engineers. The diggers on arrival were ordered “to repel the Japanese or die up there fighting” so Wally and his mates knew full well of what was expected of them.
Hand-to-hand fighting along the Kokoda Track saw Wally promoted to Sergeant. Finally, the 2/25 arrived at Templeton’s Crossing named after an Australian Captain Sam Templeton that was beheaded by the Japanese. It was here evidence of Japanese atrocities were found as Aussie Diggers were lying dead with flesh cut off their bodies as food. In October at this location the enemy dropped mortar bombs onto the 2/25 and Wally was wounded by shrapnel hitting him from his rear up his back. Wally was with walking wounded moving towards Port Moresby and later put on a stretcher and carried by New Guinea natives, nicknamed the “fuzzy wuzzy angles” by the diggers, until reaching the 2/4 Field Ambulance Station. He left New Guinea landing Townsville but by now he was suffering from Malaria as well as recovering from shells wounds. He spent long periods in a hospital bed on the Atherton Tablelands due to Malaria. As July rolled in, he was sent back to Kokoda marked fit for duties. Later once back in Australia, Wally spent several more months in and out of hospital riddled with Malaria. Eventually he was transferred to the 113 General Hospital in Sydney where his future wife, Coona girl Norma Pulham was working also in the Army. Norma and Wally obtained leave and travelled to Coona getting married in March 1944 at the Church of England, the reception being held at the Boronia Café.
Wally’s war was coming to an end, Malaria making him unfit, he was now married, and news came through that his best mate Noah Pulham who had been a Japanese prisoner of war in Java, had been confirmed dead after the Japanese transport ship he was in was torpedoed off Japan. Wally asked his Captain could he take off back to Coona to be with the Pulham family and his wife. Having no leave, the officer said “go, the war is nearly over, I will not report you for three days to give you a head start” so he got to Mackay. A mate he had their had a taxi and took him to Newcastle. He caught a train to Coonabarabran, having one close call at Werris Creek when a troop train pulled up and Military Police started walking around but did not ask for his pass. Eventually Wally surrendered to Military Police in Sydney but the War was over. He was busted back to the rank of Corporal and sent home.
Back in civilian life he raised a family and became a local builder, having the honour of building Mac and Elaine Davis bedroom without a door! He stayed in Coonabarabran until his death living in King Street. Many ANZAC Days can be remembered with him and Johnny Miller at the Royal Hotel, both Kokoda Veterans. As kids we shared the story our dads told us about Coonabarabran playing Binnaway football. The score was in a tie and just a few minutes to go when a Binnaway player bolted for the try line with no opposition to stop him, suddenly a Coona supporter ran out and tackled him, it was Wally with a few beers in him. Wally had helped save Australia from the Japanese and Coonabarabran from Binnaway! We remember the diggers like Wally Knight, their service to this country, their love of their family, the great cost to their health and uncertainty of a long life from war.