Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born on the 16th of February 1894, Hurtle Samuel Walker's early life is a mystery to his family. All that is known is that he worked as a carpenter before enlisting, (National Archives of Australia, 2001).

At the age of 20, Walker, also known as Joe, was one of the first South Australian men to answer the call of the British empire. Leaving his hometown of Petersburg (now Peterborough), he enlisted on the 31st of August 1914 at Morphettville, South Australia. Walker is just one of 416,809 Australians who enlisted in World War One  (National Archives of Australia, 2002).

Walker became an original member of the D Company 10th Infantry Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force, departing on the 20th of October 1914. Bound for Egypt, on the HMAT A11 Ascanius, the 10th Battalion arrived on the 8th of December (Virtual War Memorial, 2014). They later joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on its route to Gallipoli. Walker was one of the first to step foot on the peninsula and one of the last to leave. Walker fought in the Gallipoli campaign from the landing on the 25th of April 1915 to the evacuation on the 20th of December 1915 (National Archives of Australia, 2001).

He writes home about his experience at Gallipoli:

"I am still alive and kicking... Our old pals the navy are here again for a bit of practice and to tickle up the Turks. He had a bit of a "Guy Fawkes" here the other night - the Turks must have thought we were either drunk or mad." - the 3rd of July 1915 (Petersburg Times, 1915),

After surviving Gallipoli, Walker was promoted to Lance Corporal in Egypt before joining the British Expeditionary Force on the 27th of March 1916. He arrived in Marseilles, France, on the 3rd of April (State Library of New South Wales, 2019).

The 10th Battalion engaged in the Battle of Pozieres from the 14th-27th of July, (State Library of New South Wales, 2019). Around 350 men were killed, wounded or missing, which equated to a quarter of the 10th Battalion's strength, (Virtual War Memorial, 2014). Due to Walker's 'exceptional ability and the losses suffered by the unit', he was promoted to Corporal, (National Archives of Australia, 2001).

Mouquet Farm was a dominant strategic position on the Western-Front that extended to the sought-after Pozieres. The 19th of August saw a preliminary assault which sent patrols to determine the German's position, (Virtual War Memorial Australia, 2015). The Germans proved too strong, and the 10th Battalion patrol could not achieve their objective.

On the 21st of August 1916, the 10th Battalion positioned to attack Fabeck Garben. It was decided the attack would occur when the Germans least expected it - in the daylight. This was the first time an Australian unit would conduct a daylight attack; although appropriate in theory, it was a disaster, with only one officer and 120 of its 620 men surviving, (Virtual War Memorial Australia, 2015).

However, D Company of the 10th Battalion penetrated much further than intended and found themselves separated from the rest of the Australian defence. A German unit closed in behind them and left the survivors seeking refuge in shell holes, (Interview with S. Briene, 2022).

As Walker jumped into a shell hole, he was shot in the shoulder and as he fell, he was shot again in his upper right thigh. Here in the scarred landscape, the injured Walker supported the wounded Private Frederick Norman Rattray, (South Australian Red Cross Bureau, 2018).

An injured Walker was captured by German forces on the 22nd of August 1916. In early October, the 'Missing' Walker was reported as being killed in action, and his family notified. Walker's death was reported in newspapers such as The Advertiser and The Daily Herald.

"Mr. and Mrs. Edward K. Walker, of Petersburg, have been notified that their younger son, Lance-Corporal Hurtle Samuel Walker, was killed in action on the 22nd of August...", (The Advertiser, 1916)

Although presumed dead like many others, Walker continued to fight for his life whilst in the German field hospital. Later in life, Walker would only speak of his gratitude to the German doctor who decided to wait instead of amputating his leg; "he did not mention anything else about the war", (Interview with L. Briene, 2022).

While a Prisoner of War, Walker saw more horrific events. He was the last eyewitness to Private Frederick Norman Rattray of the 10th Battalion's B Company. He states:

"...Prisoner of War was shot in abdomen by bullet. He was brought back to 1st German trench where he died, was unconscious. I was wounded and was lying alongside him in the tren<;;h. His body was left in the trench when I was taken away." (South Australian Red Cross Bureau, 2018).

Thanks to Walker's report, the Rattray family was able to receive closure.

Walker's family also grief-stricken, were notified in September 1917, a year after being presumed dead, that their son was a Prisoner of War and not killed in action (Interview L. Briene, 2022). A Representative of the Netherlands Legation at Berlin inspected the Grosse Moor Working Camp for Prisoners of War, where Walker was discovered to be alive:

"He was transferred from Heeston moor to Grosse moor on the 5th of April 1917" (National Archives of Australia, 2001).

The promising news was reported in multiple newspapers, and his hometown rejoiced.

"Mr. E. K. Walker, of Petersburg, has been officially informed that his son, Lce.-Cpl. Hurtle Samuel Walker, who was previously reported as having been killed inaction in France, is a prisoner of war in Germany. The news has been received with rejoicing in Petersburg." (The Advertiser, 1916).

Walker remained a Prisoner of War for the remainder of the war. During this time, Walker worked on the Moor with his fellow soldiers (National Archives of Australia, 2001).

After the war concluded, the Prisoner of War camp was shut down. The German soldiers left, leaving Walker and three other South Australian soldiers alone and abandoned on a farm in a foreign country. The four soldiers remained at the farm until early 1919, before the Red Cross officially found them (South Australian Red Cross Bureau, 2018).

The King and Queen invited them for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace as an apology and to express their gratitude for the men's service (National Archives of Australia, 2001). They were gifted fine chocolates and a cigar, (Interview with S. Briene, 2022).

They spent three months in England before arriving home in Australia. Walker disembarked on the 25th of April 1919, stepping foot on Australian soil for the first time in 5 years, (National Archives of Australia, 2001). The day marked an important milestone in Walker's service, returning home on the same date he steeped ashore at Gallipoli (Interview with L. Briene, 2022).

Walker led a successful post-war life as a carpenter, settling down and marrying Doris Ayus on the 16th of October 1920. The couple welcomed their first offour children the following year, (Interview with L. Briene, 2022).

Walker, like many men, had suffered physically and changed mentally due to the war. The family suspected that he may have suffered from Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder, but it is unclear as the topic was rarely discussed, (Interview with L. Briene, 2022). Walker died from 'natural causes' (heart attack/stroke) at the age of 83 on the 25th of August 1977, (Virtual War Memorial, 2022).

Walker never attended an ANZAC march or talked about his experience. He applied for a Gallipoli medallion, but the family do not know if he ever received one (National Archives of Australia, 2001). Walker received three other medals to commemorate his service, but he did not like to display them (Interview with S. Briene, 2022).

The only time Walker's granddaughter recalls Walker speaking of the war was to her father (Walker's son-in-law) when he was called to fight in New Guinea. He told him: "Make sure you look after your feet son." This phrase has continued through multiple generations. When Walker's Great-Great-Grandson joined the Australian Army, Walker's Great-Grandson told his son, "Make sure you look after your feet, son", (Interview with L. Briene, 2022).

It is evident that Walker showed the ANZAC Spirit characteristics of perseverance and mateship. His determination and fighting spirit took him through all of the Gallipoli Campaign, Egypt and the Western Front. Even as a Prisoner of War, he fought for his life after being seriously injured.

Mateship is often displayed as providing unconditional support for one another amid the harshest conditions, which is precisely what Walker did, (ABC News, 2015). He continued to show mateship and leadership whilst leading the D Company into the unknown and staying by the side of others despite being injured himself, as displayed through his care for the dying Frederick Norman Rattray, (South Australian Red Cross Bureau, 2018).

Buckingham Palace letters signed by the King and Queen further highlight Walker's patience and courage (National Archives of Australia, 2001).

Whilst being abandoned as Prisoners of War, Walker formed an immense bond with his three comrades and showed a deep sense of mateship. The group were all from South Australia and not only fought together but remained friends, clearly highlighting Walker's mateship (Interview with L. Briene, 2022).

Hurtle Samuel Walker embodied the ANZAC Spirit and risked his life for the sake of others. He persevered through extraordinary physical conditions and mental challenges while cherishing friendships, exhibiting the Australian sense of mateship.

Written by Alexandra Seal, Loreto College. Winning entry for the 2022 ANZAC Spirit School Prize