Gilgandra, NSW
Depot
World War 1
Died in Liverpool Camp
Private Walter Walker
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3005299
Walter Walker enlisted on July 24, 1915 and died less than one month later in the Liverpool Field Camp Hospital. Walter was only 19 when he died of meningitis on August 27, 1915. He was a single farmer of Gilgandra when he enlisted. His medical examination describes him as 5’ 6” tall, 145lbs (65kgs), ruddy complexion, hazel eyes, good vision, brown hair, no distinctive marks and his religion was Church of England. He was born in Yarrawonga, Victoria 1896 and lived at ‘New Breelong’ near Gilgandra NSW. He was given a military funeral and newspaper reports in the Dubbo Liberal and Gilgandra Weekly described it as the biggest funeral seen in the district. The funeral was headed by the Gilgandra Band and Rifle Club. In the absence of the Light Horse, the Rifle Club fired a volley of shots over the grave.
The family received the Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll in 1923. He was not eligible for the Victory Medal or British War Medal because he did not serve in a theatre of war.
Walter Walker is commemorated on the Gilgandra War Memorial, the Gilgandra District Honor Roll and on Panel 87 at the Australian War Memorial.
