Walter Joseph Host

Walter Host (Service No 702) was born in Berry, N.S.W. and attended Kiama Public School.  As a young man, Walter had joined the Berry Cadets, serving as a 2nd Lieutenant.  As a Cadet, he was chosen to represent Kiama at the Coronation of King George V.

When Walter was 19 years old he enlisted with the AIF.  He was single and worked as a carpenter.

Walter was awarded the Bisley Badge as a member of a rifle team which shot against a Canadian Team.

Shortly after enlisting, Walter was promoted to Sergeant.  He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A23 Suffolk with G Company, 2nd Battalion, on 18th October 1914.   The troops arrived in Egypt on 8th December 1914, and after training in Egypt, Walter sailed for Gallipoli, landing on 25th April.  At some point during that day he was wounded in action and was evacuated for treatment of gun shot wounds. 

Walter was returned to Gallipoli on 11th June 1915 and served till the evacuation.

During the Lone Pine battles he was acting Company Sergeant-Major and his actions during the fighting resulted in his being mentioned in dispatches for services rendered during the Dardanelles Operations (Proclaimed in Commonwealth Gazette No 44, 6th April 1916).

Walter was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Lone Pine between 6th and 9th August 1915 (Proclaimed in Commonwealth Gazette No 62, 19th April 1917).

On 1st January 1916, while in Egypt, Walter was promoted to Company Sergeant-Major, then on 12th March 1916, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Walter was then sent to France, arriving on 28th March 1916, and was further promoted to Lieutenant, on 26th June 1916.

On 23rd July 1916 Walter was with 16 Platoon, D Company, engaged in the battle of the Somme.  Walter was escorting German prisoners when he was wounded, either by a direct hit by a shell, or gunshot wounds, or by bayonet.  Walter's Red Cross Wounded and Missing papers give varying accounts of his injuries by witnesses.

He was taken for treatment of his wounds but died of injuries on 24th July 1916.

Walter is buried in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France: Plot III, Row D, Grave 12.