Military History

 

Walker enlisted as a Private with the 11^th Australian Infantry Reserves 3^rd Brigade 17.8.1914 at Blackboy Hill.
Embarked from Fremantle per  HMAT ‘Ascanius’ AT 11 for Egypt 23.10.1914
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 11^th Infantry Battalion.
Disembarked in Egypt in early December and undetook intensive training Walker and his Bn.  embarked for  Gallipoli and were the first troops ashore. They landed at 4.30 in the morning and made the first raid at Gaba Tepe. Walker was wounded in action and transferred to Malta by HS ‘Clan McGillvray’. He received a GSW to his right forearm and was admitted to a Convalescent Hosptal at Tigne. Walker embarked for HT ‘Scotian’ for Gallipoli from Alexandria 4.7.1915 and rejoined his Unit  10.7.1915. He was appointed T/Sgt 17.10.1915 and Sgt. 17.12.1915. He was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915 and returned to Alexandria.
On 16th January 1916, Walker  joined the BEF and embarked at Alexandria per HMT ’ Lake Michigan’ for France. The 11^th Bn. engaged in their first major action at Pozieres in July 1916. Walker was appointed  Acting Company Sergeant Major (A/CSM) ‘in the Field’ 7.9.1916. Walker was admitted to hospital with scabies 9.8.1916 and rejoined his Unit 6.9.1916. The 11^th Bn was fought in the trenches near Flanders and returned to the Somme in the winter of 1916-17. Walker was promoted to Company Sgt.-Major (CSM) on 26.10.1916. He was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his service in France 4.6.1918. He was sent to a School of Instruction in France 29.8.1918. Walker embarked at Havre for England for ‘Special 1914 Leave’. He marched out of Southampton for Parkhouse before embarkation.
Embarked for return to Australia per ‘Port Lyttleton’ D30,  23.10.1918
Disembarked Fremantle 12.12.1918
Discharged 17.2.1919.
Final Rank Company Sgt.-Major, 11^th Bn.
Medical Condition
Notes ‘Special 1914 Leave,’ was six months special leave granted to soldiers who had enlisted in 1914.
Awards and Medals  1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
DCM citation
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the period under review, his devoted courage and gallant leadership have been conspicuous on many occasions and his coolness under fire and and cheerfulness in the face of difficulties havve sustained his men during severe fighting. Regardless of personal danger, he has frequently assisted to dig our men who have been buried, and thus saved many lives.’
(London Gazette 3.6.1918)

Photos  HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
              Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph source AWM P2194.005
           Somme Albert, Bapaume, Pozieres, Mouquet farm December 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00566
 

Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P2194.005. Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00566. Somme, Albert, Bapaume, Pozieres, Mouquet farm December 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll David Walker
London Gazette citation in NAA :B2455 Walker David
NAA: B2455 Walker David

Meadow Street, Guildford, WA.

Associated Images