Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On the 26 January 1900, the Wodonga and Towong Sential reported, "another Wodonga 'boy'," had volunteered for service in Transvaal with the New South Wales Bushman's Corps. They were referring to, "Mr Walter Huon, son of Mr W. Huon, J.P., of de Kerilleau, Wodonga. Young Mr Huon is at present residing at Burrowa, NSW and has already passed the riding and medical tests."

Two weeks later, the same paper advised its readers that, "Mr Walter Huon...has been advanced a step, being now a corporal." By the time the NSW Citizen Bushman Contingent sailed at the end of February, Walter  was a Sergeant in B Squadron. The Atlantian and Maplemore reached Cape Town in early April and then proceeded to Beira where the contingent disembarked.

As the colonial contingents amassed in Beira, friends and family were often able to meet as is evident by the very detailed letter from Private Charles Stewart Abercrombie (3rd QLD Mounted Infantry, No 177 D Company) to his father, which was published in numerous newspapers in June. Dated the end of April, Charles wrote, "Last night Walter Huon came down to see me, and I went up to the New South Wales Sergeants' mess with him (he is one)".

In October, newspapers published a letter Walter had written on the 11th September to his older sister, Amelia (Mrs F. W. Hume), in which he gives a detailed account of the skirmishes leading up to the Koster's River engagement on the 22nd July, and "where 300 of us lay for eight hours on the open plain with 1000 Boers on the kopjes all round us. They shot nearly all our horses, and killed our gallant captain, Robertson...". Walter also expressed his desire to return home and lamented the loss of his horse, "...Report says we are to be sent home on the 15th if nothing turns up to stop us. I only hope it is true, as we are all very sick of soldiering. My horse, alas! is gone. I rode him from Mafeking to Rustenburg. That was my first and last ride on him. I have ridden one or two others, but most of my riding has been on foot...".

It would be May 1901, before the NSW Citizens Bushmen embark in Cape Town bound for home. Calling at Fremantle, Adelaide and Melbourne, the Morayshire finally arrived in Sydney on the 11th June. Ten days later, the Burrowa News announced, "Sergeant Walter Huon,...has returned from South Africa, where he went through some hard and perilous work, as indeed his worn appearance plainly indicates...".

Walter was officially welcomed home by two seperate communities. A Smoke Concert was held at the Burrowa Mechanics Institute in July and on returning to the family hometown of Wodonga, a reception was held at the Masonic Hall. On this occasion, Walter was "presented with a handsome gold medal, suitably inscribed".

Karen Standen 2017.