DERRETT, Walter
| Service Numbers: | 492, 331, 1539 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 September 1915, Dubbo, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Omaru, New Zealand, 1 January 1862 |
| Home Town: | Woy Woy, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Veterinary dresser & labourer |
| Died: | Suicide by drowning, Rappville, New South Wales, Australia, 15 April 1928, aged 66 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried in bushland near Myrtle Creek, Rappville |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Sergeant, 492, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 331, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 475 notes 4th QIB embarked 18 May 1900 aboard Manchester Port arriving Beira 14 Jun 1900. | |
| 23 Jan 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 331, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier, invalided (pneumonia & bronchitis) returned to Australia aboard Orient arriving Brisbane 16 Jn 1901, discharged 23 Jan 1901. | |
| 10 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 492, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 & 504 notes a Draft consisting of 1 Lt, 1 Sgt (Derrett), & 24 rank and file embarked at Pinkenba 10 Mar 1901 aboard Chicago arriving Port Elizabeth 20 Apr 1901. | |
| 26 Mar 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 492, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1539, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Dubbo, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 1539, 6th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Hawkes Bay embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 23 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 1539, 6th Light Horse Regiment, SS Hawkes Bay, Sydney | |
| 26 Oct 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1539, 6th Light Horse Regiment |
Boer War Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 331, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| Date unknown: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 492, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
Help us honour Walter Derrett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Walter DERRETT was born in Omaru, New Zealand in 1862
His parents were William & Ann DERRETT
He married Mary Elizabeth SAUNDERS nee GIBSON in NSW in 1920
Walter served during the Boer War with both the 4th & 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen and was invalided to Australia arriving on 16th January, 1901 - he was discharged on 26th March, 1902 when the rest of the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen arrived back in Australia
On 29th September, 1915 he enlisted to serve during WW1 in the 6th Light Horse Regiment which embarked from Sydney on 23rd October, 1915 in the SS Hawkes Bay with the 12th reinforcements
He returned to Australia on 17th August, 1916 and was discharged on 26th October, 1916 as medically unfit
Walter was living in the Northern Rivers area of NSW and his wife Mary was an invalid living in Sydney - he was suffering ill health & committed suicide by drowning in Myrtle Creek , Rappville, NSW - he is buried in a travelling stock reserve in the bush near the river (see photos of his resting place)
IN MEMORY
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