John Russell Walker

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 21/08/2017 - 15:02

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Russell

Last Name:

Walker

Date of Birth:

Thursday, May 10, 1894

Mother's Name:

Jean Walker nee Robb

Father's Name:

James Walker

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, February 16, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

19th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, November 21, 1976

Place of Death:

Cairns, Queensland

Details:

John Walker (Service no 2232) was born in Kiama, NSW.

At the time of enlistment, John was single, 20 years of age, employed as a mill hand and resided in Yulong, Victoria.

John embarked on HMAT A8 - Argyllshire with the 19th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements on 30 November 1915. He arrived in Egypt in December and joined the 19th Battalion on 8 January 1916.

John arrived in France on 25 March 1916 and saw service on the Western Front. He was wounded in action on 25 August 1916 but remained on duty.

John was promoted to Lance Corporal on 3 October 1916. On 28 February 1917, John was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of shrapnell wounds to his left arm. He developed pneumonia while in hospital becoming dangerously ill. He recovered and returned to his unit on 8 August 1917.

On 17 March 1918, John was transferred to the 3rd Australian Division Mechanical Transport Company and served with the Unit until the War ended.

John was returned to Australia in March 1919 and discharged on 10 July 1919.

On 8 February 1921, he married Bertha Chilcott in Ballina, Victoria and together they raised 2 children. John died in Cairns, Queensland in 1976.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WALKER J R