Walter Thurman

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 22/04/2017 - 11:57

First Name:

Walter

Last Name:

Thurman

Mother's Name:

Kate Thurman nee Squires

Father's Name:

Oliver Thurman

Date Enlisted:

Monday, May 15, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

45th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, August 4, 1932

Details:

Walter Thurman (Service No 2541) was born in Nottingham, England in late 1885 and arrived in Australia in October 1912.

At enlistment Walter was single, 30 years old, worked as a labourer and lived at Woonona, N.S.W. Walter's nominated next-of-kin was his brother, Albert, who lived in England.

Walter embarked from Sydney on HMAT A68 Anchises with 45th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement on 24th August 1916 and arrived in England on 11th October 1916. He joined the battalion in France in early January 1917.

While fighting for Stormy Trench, near Gueudecourt in Northern France, Walter was wounded on 13th January 1917 and evacuated to hospital for treatment of a chest wound. He returned to his unit on 29th April 1917 and was sent to Messines where he was wounded a second time on 7th June 1917. He was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his right arm. The injury was serious and Walter was repatriated to Australia in January 1918.

He was discharged from the AIF on 8th August 1918.

In 1919 Walter married Muriel Catts at Marrickville in Sydney and the couple had 2 children.

Walter was living in Woonona in 1932 and died that same year.

His service is commemorated on the Bulli-Woonona War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, THURMAN WALTER