British War Medal 1914-20: Private Edward Walker, 25th Battalion, AIF

British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Edward Walker a horse breaker from Lismore, volunteered to serve with the first AIF in July 1917 following in the footsteps of his brothers Thomas and Robert. Walker was born to Susan Robinson (later Davis) and Robert Yanygali Walker at Kiama, NSW in October 1893, a descendant of Turungeranbrun. Initially assigned to the 10th Reinforcements for the 49th Infantry Battalion, service number 3754, Walker embarked from Sydney in August 1917 for England.

Walker arrived in England, via Nova Scotia in October 1917 and was later allocated to the 25th Battalion, the same unit as his brother Thomas, in January 1918 in France. After serving with the Battalion for several months, on 16 July 1918 Walker was wounded in the left elbow. The Battalion had been stationed in the front line at Villers-Bretonneux. They were in the line preparing for an attack to take place on 17 July to shorten and straighten their front line.

Within a few days he was sent to England to recover. His brother Thomas, was killed in action on 11 August. In October 1918 Walker contracted influenza and was hospitalized. He recovered and embarked for return to Australia on 22 December 1918. He was discharged in March 1919.

Edward Walker was involved in a court case in 1919 when the publican for the Federal Hotel in Casino, Frederick Baker, was charged and fined for supplying liquor to an Aboriginal. On 7 March, a few months after Walker returned to Australia and about a fortnight before he was discharged from the AIF, Walker and two other Aboriginal men entered the pub and Walker had a drink of beer. In his defense the publican stated Walker, who had purchased the liquor, had gone away to fight for them and was entitled to all they could give him, he thought it should be possible for this man to have a glass of beer if he wanted it.

Edward Walker joined his family on the Aboriginal reserve at Ulgundahi Island located on the Clarence River, in 1919. Edward later married and worked in the area until his death in 1976, age 82.