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Son of Annie Walker, of 94, Chelmsford Rd., North Perth, West Australia, and the late Charles Walker.

BRILLIANT FREMANTLE SCHOLAR
KILLED IN THE FIGHT, PROMISING MEDICAL CAREER CLOSED
When the full casualty lists in connection with the Jutland naval engagement are published, It will doubt loss bo found that many brilliant lives have boen terminated Just when they showed moat promise. Not the least brilliant among these careers which have, unfortunately, been so closed, will be that of a Fremantle boy named Robert Walker, who was a surgeon probationer on board H.M.S. Shark. The cables this morning mentioned that the destroyer Shark, which was being used in the engagement as a decoy, had been torpedoed by the enemy, and during today Mr. Charles Walker, of Tuckfleld-street. Fremantle, received from the Admiralty Office a cable intimating that his son Robert had been killed in action. It was particularly sad news, as young Walker, who was only 23 years of age, has had a brilliant career at school, college and university, and was it is said,  regarded as Edinburgh's blue ribbon scholar. Young Walker was a scholar at the Fremantle Boys' School, gaining scholarships which carried him on to the Scotch College. There he won a University Exhibition valued at £450, and with this he wont to the Edinburgh University to train his medical degree. While at the university he won the Carlyle Scholarship, the McKenzie Bursary, and a number of medals. In May last he won the Dunlop Scholarship of £ 1,300 for practical anatomy. Twelve months ago he volunteered for active service and was appointed to H.M.S. Lynx. Just at the time his appointment came through the Lynx was torpedoed in the North Sea, and he was then appointed to serve as surgeon probationer on board the Shark.

Robert Walker RN was born in Fremantle on the 19.2.1893. He served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was Presbyterian and his father was Fremantle Boat Builder Charles Walker. Robert attended Fremantle Boys School until he won a scholarship to Scotch College, Claremont. He was Dux of Scotch College in 1910, won an exhibition to Adelaide University, then Edinburgh, where he studied from 1912 to 1915. A "brilliant and popular student", he won 9 medals for his studies. He joined the Navy as a Surgeon Probationer and served on RN Shark.

During the battle of Jutland, at around 6 pm on 31.5.1916, Shark led an unsuccessful torpedo attack by the four destroyers on the German 2nd Scouting Group, with Shark firing two torpedoes. The other three destroyers escaped with little damage, but Shark was crippled by gunfire, having her fuel pipes and steering gear wrecked. The forecastle gun was completely blown away with most of its gun crew shortly before the captain, Commander Loftus Jones, declined an offer of assistance from the destroyer Ascata, as it would put Acasta in too much danger.

Soon afterwards the aft 4-inch gun was also destroyed and the bridge wrecked. Jones and three seamen continued working the midship gun, engaging nearby German destroyers and leading to the sinking of V48. The German destroyers closed on the ship and returned heavy fire, during which Jones lost a leg. Shortly before 7 pm he ordered the ship to be abandoned and around thirty of the crew got onto the rafts. Only seven were picked up six hours later by a Danish ship, but one died soon afterwards. Although there are reports that Jones went down with the ship, survivors told his wife that he was put onto a raft. In total, 86 men out of a crew of 92 were killed. (Wikipedia)

Robert was reportedly tending to the wounded when he was killed. He was 23. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom; and the Australian War Memorial in Campbell, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Commemorative Roll Memorial ID 249866125.