Footlocker : Chaplain W E Dexter, 1 Australian Division Headquarters, AIF

Rectangular black painted tin footlocker with hinged lid. Painted in white on the top of the lid is 'Chaplain W. E. Dexter, 1st Anzac H.Q., A.I.F.' Inside the lid is a metal oval maker's label but the maker's details are not legible. Each corner of the footlocker has been reinforced internally with a metal support. The supports have flat pieces attached to them to form a platform to keep a tray in position, although the tray is no longer present. On the left and right hand side of the footlocker, a tin handle has been attached with a folded and rivetted piece of metal. The lock is brass and is secured by a key. Extending from each side of the lock around the sides and back of the box is a metal lip to assist in sealing the footlocker when the lid is closed. The front and rear of the footlocker have leather straps attached to metal supports which have been rivetted to the body of the footlocker. The front strap has a buckle attached, the rear strap is worn through . When intact, the straps would have joined over the top of the foot locker for added security during travel.

Associated with the service of Walter Ernest Dexter. Dexter was born at Birkenhead, Cheshire in England in August 1873. At the age of 14, he became a boy sailor on the barque 'Buckingham', from which he soon deserted and stowed away to New York. Some years later he resumed his nautical career, and by 1899 had passed an examination for the Master's Certificate. Before he had a chance to command his own vessel, he enlisted as a trooper in Lumsden's Horse (a unit raised mostly in India from British troops serving there) in February 1900 for service in the Boer War. Dexter served in South Africa until early 1901, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his courageous actions. No citation for this award is known to exist, but it was probably for the action at Karee when a party of Lumsden's Horse was cut off and had to fight its way out, suffering fifty percent casualties in the process. Later in 1901, Dexter became master of the 'Afghan', and began a period of study at sea which led to his enrolling at Durham University in 1906, with the intention of joining the Anglican ministry. After graduating, he was ordained in 1908 and in 1910 appointed to work as a vicar at Wonthaggi in Victoria and was later transferred to South Melbourne. At the outbreak of war in 1914, Dexter offered his services as a chaplain, becoming one of the first twelve such appointments to the AIF. Initially chaplain to 5 Battalion, and then to the entire 2nd Brigade, Dexter distinguished himself at Gallipoli by his bravery and practicality, as well as his spirituality, and was highly regarded by the troops. He spent considerable time organising the surveying and mapping of the Anzac cemeteries before the evacuation of the area in December 1915, and in early 1916 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his Gallipoli exploits. Later in France, he continued to devote himself to the welfare of the troops, and was awarded the Military Cross in 1918, becoming the most decorated chaplain in the AIF. After the war and what he described as 'all this work amongst men', Dexter had doubts about resuming parish work. For a time he became a soldier-settler at Kilsyth, Victoria. This venture proved unsuccessful, and he soon returned to the church, successively serving the Victorian parishes of Romney, Lara and West Footscray until his retirement in 1947. Walter Dexter died at his home in East Malvern in August 1950.