WALLS, Hugh Benedict
| Service Number: | 1387 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 April 1900, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | NSW Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Gulgong, NSW, 26 April 1878 |
| Home Town: | Gulgong, Mid-Western Regional, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Shearer |
| Died: | Heart Attack, Longreach, Qld., 16 July 1952, aged 74 years |
| Cemetery: |
Longreach Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 1387, New South Wales Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1900: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 1387, NSW Imperial Bushmen, Sydney, NSW |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of John WALLS and Mary Anne nee GREENE
Hugh left for South Africa on 23 April 1900 on the Armenian as part of the NSW Imperial Bushmen's unit, D Squadron. He served as a personal bodyguard to Lieut-General Lord Methuen and was issued Lord Methuen's "Escourt Badge" for his service.
Mr. John Walls received several letters from his son, Hugh, this week. It will be remembered that Hugh went to South Africa with the Imperial Bushmen. He contracted enteric fever, and was in hospital with Trooper de Boos. Hugh got better very rapidly and went out on active duty. At the present time he is in camp at Bulawayo with 1000 men. He has been promoted with the commission of Lieutenant. He is on picket duty, and is having a high old time.
Hugh returned to Australia 17 July 1901.
He then departed again for South Africa on 21 August 1901 on the Troopship Britannic and served this time with the Bechuanaland Rifles, a unit raided in South Africa.
He returned to Australia in June 1902 with the last of the soldiers.
He was promoted from Private to Corporal and then Sergeant in South Africa.
On Friday last two of Gulgong's Transvaal heroes were accorded a reception. Troopers Hugh Walls and Herb Taylor were seated in a sulky and pulled all round the town. The Gulgong and Salvation Army bands were in the van and played martial airs. About 100 people with torches and Chinese lanters followed, and the cheering all along the route was deafening. The proceedings were very enthusiastic. The returned warriors look very well after their experience at the front, and they seem to have had a rough time from accounts of their travels related by them.
John married Esther WILLIAMS 22 February 1915 at Longreach, and had children Ivy Maud, Daisy, George, Edward Kevin and Isabella Mary. He was a shearer who was in great demand.
MR. H. B. WALLS
A man who must have been the sole surviving Boer War veteran in Central Queensland, and one of the oldest and most respected shearers of the district, passed away suddenly at his home in Longreach on 16th July. He was Mfr. Hugh Benedict Walls. The late Mr. Walls was born at Gulgong, N.S.W., on 26th April, 1878, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. James Walls. He arrived in Queensland in 1912 and followed the occupation of shearer till he retired seven years ago. In his later shearing years he was greatly in demand as a the industry he was an unquestioned expert, and his services in this capacity were appreciated by several of the studs to handle their rams. His marriage took place in Longreach to Miss Esther Williams on 22nd February, 1914, and by her he is survived, with their three children, Mrs. Wood (Brisbane), and Miss Daisy Walls and Mr. George Walls (Longreach) and three brothers and four sisters.
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