WALKER, George William
| Service Number: | 196 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 196, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Lieutenant | |
| 1 Nov 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 196, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 448 notes 1st QMI embarked 1 Nov 1899 aboard Cornwall arriving Cape Town 13 Dec 1899. | |
| 23 Jan 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 196, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 449 notes 1st QMI embarked 13 Dec 1900 returning to Australia aboard Orient arriving Brisbane 17 Jan 1901, disbanded 23 Jan 1901. | |
| 4 Apr 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes 6th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 4 Apr 1901 aboard Victoria arriving Cape Town 2 May 1901. | |
| 8 Sep 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 1 p. 19, notes returned to Australia aboard Wakanui arriving at Hobart 20 Aug 1902 then transported to Brisbane, discharged 8 Sep 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- when he enlisted a second time and was entered in the original nominal roll for the 6th Queensland (Imperial Bushmen) Contingent, held by National Archives, his full name was given as Geoghegan George William Walker. He went to South Africa as a Special Services Officer with the 6th QIB. In 1902 newspapers published notifications of the termination of appointments of returned special service officers of the 6th QIB, e.g. The Telegraph (Brisb), 20 Sep 1902, where he was recorded as Lieutenant G. G. W. Walker.
George William Walker served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 196, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Lieutenant, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.
When George William Walker first enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private G. W. Walker, Court-house, Toowoomba. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 117, it is noted he, like a number of the men, was seconded to the South African Police between 22 Jun 1900 and 31 Oct 1900. The paybook also notes he directed part of his pay to Mrs. G. Walker, Court House, Toowoomba. He served the full tour of the 1st QMI returning to Brisbane where he was discharged on 23 Jan 1901.
Almost immediately he enlisted again and was selected as a special service officer at the rank of Lieutenant in the 6th QIB. When his photo and details were published in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, his N.O.K. was given as J. M. Walker, Toowoomba. It appears he remained on duty in South Africa after the 6th QIB contingent left for Australia, returning to Brisbane where he was discharged 8 Sep 1902.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451 and 509; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 117 and 6th QIB, Bk 1 p. 19).
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