British War Medal 1914-20 : Private J A Walker, 34 Battalion, AIF

British War Medal 1914-1920, impressed around the edge with recipient's details.

Associated with the service of 1111 Private James Allen Walker, who was born in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa in 1890. He immigrated to Sydney, Australia as a young man and worked as a printer.

When war was declared, Walker was among the first men to enlist for service in the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) on 12 August 1914. He was allocated the regimental number 175 and posted to A Company, 1 Battalion. He embarked from Circular Quay aboard HMAT Berrima on 19 August.

After the surrender of German forces in German New Guinea and the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Walker was promoted to corporal and sent to work in the Government printing press at Rabaul in October. He rejoined his company on 15 January 1915 before returning to Sydney in late March with the rest of the ANMEF for discharge in early April.

Walker was among many of the former ANMEF men who enlisted for service in the AIF. He enlisted on 13 May, was allocated the regimental number 1111 and posted to C Company, 19th Battalion. The battalion left Australia from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ceramic on 25 June, arriving in Egypt in late July.

He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli on 21 August and was promoted to corporal during his service on the Gallipoli peninsula. He took part in the final action of the August offensive, the attack on Hill 60, before settling in to defensive positions on Pope’s Hill for the remainder of the campaign. Walker left Gallipoli with the 19th Battalion on 19 December and returned to Egypt.

Upon their return to Egypt, the battalion found itself based at Katoomba camp, part of defensive positions on the Suez Canal. By the end of January 1916, the men of the 19th Battalion were feeling the effects of poor re-supply and bad rations.

In early February, Walker was approached by several of his men who told him that they would not parade in marching order for a scheduled route march on 4 February as they were unhappy with the ration and supply situation. He took his men’s grievances to the platoon sergeant who dismissed Walker.

Walker made a stand with his men on the morning of 4 February when they went on parade without their packs. The acting battalion commander ordered the men to wear their packs, which they declined to do. Walker and seven of his men were arrested and held for court martial.

The men went before a Field General Court Martial on 15 February. Walker was charged with engaging in a mutiny and disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer. He pleaded not guilty, but was found to be guilty on both counts by the officers presiding.

Walker was sentenced to three years penal servitude for the first charge and the second charge was quashed. He was returned to Australia on 29 April aboard HMAT Seang Bee to begin 18 months hard labour. After his arrival in Australia he was sent to Goulburn Gaol to serve out his sentence.

During the next six months, Walker appealed his sentence and asked for clemency so that he could return to France and be posted to an infantry battalion. Initially, his pleas were rejected, but his appeal was finally upheld and he was reinstated to active service on 4 April 1917. The remainder of his sentence was dismissed.

Walker embarked from Sydney on 10 May, arriving in England on 19 July. After a period of training, he was sent to a bombing school before embarking for service in France in December.

He joined 36 Battalion at Houplines on 20 December. It was a relatively quiet time for the battalion, which was involved in working parties and occupying the front line. Walker was wounded on 3 March 1918 during the relief of the 37th Battalion near the Red Lodge at Villers Bretonneux. He received a gunshot wound to his left buttock and was evacuated to England to recover.

While Walker was recovering in England, the 36th Battalion was disbanded at the end of April. When he returned to France at the beginning of July, he was posted to the 33rd Battalion, but transferred the following day to the 34th Battalion.

Walker was wounded for the second time on 22 August near Corbie during the allied offensive. He was evacuated to England and when he learned of the Armistice on 11 November, he promptly went AWOL, returning the next day. He was admonished and fined a day’s pay.

Walker left England on 12 December, arriving in Melbourne on 1 February 1919. After being transported from Broadmeadows Camp to Sydney, he was discharged from the AIF on 28 March 1919.