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William Raby Walker
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 10/10/1886 |
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Place of birth: Collingwood, Tasman, New Zealand |
General information
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Last known residence: Triangle Valley, Pūponga, Tasman, New Zealand |
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Serjeant |
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Service number: 23/1861 |
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Enlistment date: 16/10/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Units: — Canterbury Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/12/1917 |
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Place of death: Cameron Covert, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 31 |
Memorial
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Distinguished Conduct Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Raby Walker, a former famer, was born on 10 October 1917 in Collingwood, Tasman, New Zealand. He was the son of James and Helen Walker. William enlisted on 16 October 1915 in Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand. He served as a Serjeant in the 12th (Nelson) Company, 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment, part of 2nd New Zealand Brigade, of the New Zealand Division.
In December 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele had ended but the line was still occupied. On the night of December 15/16th, the 2nd Canterbury Battalion moved two companies out of support at Polygonveld to Cameron Covert where they relieved the front-line troops. Two other companies stayed in support near Polygonveld. On the night of December 18/19th, the companies switched their positions. Now the 12th (Nelson) Company held the front line until the night of 22/23 December 1917.
William Raby Walker, aged 31, died of wounds on December 20, 1917. Serjeant Walker has no known grave and is remembered on panel 3A of the Buttes New British Cemetery (N.Z.) Memorial, Polygon Wood. The posthumously received a Distinguished Conduct Medal on 26 March 1918. The statement reads the following: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a platoon in an isolated trench when a party of the enemy about 50 strong attempted a raid. He showed great tactical ability in bringing a Lewis gun to bear on the threatened flank, covering it with a section of bombers, and caught the raiders with enfilade fire and decimated them. He had previously shown marked courage and devotion to duty.”
In December 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele had ended but the line was still occupied. On the night of December 15/16th, the 2nd Canterbury Battalion moved two companies out of support at Polygonveld to Cameron Covert where they relieved the front-line troops. Two other companies stayed in support near Polygonveld. On the night of December 18/19th, the companies switched their positions. Now the 12th (Nelson) Company held the front line until the night of 22/23 December 1917.
William Raby Walker, aged 31, died of wounds on December 20, 1917. Serjeant Walker has no known grave and is remembered on panel 3A of the Buttes New British Cemetery (N.Z.) Memorial, Polygon Wood. The posthumously received a Distinguished Conduct Medal on 26 March 1918. The statement reads the following: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a platoon in an isolated trench when a party of the enemy about 50 strong attempted a raid. He showed great tactical ability in bringing a Lewis gun to bear on the threatened flank, covering it with a section of bombers, and caught the raiders with enfilade fire and decimated them. He had previously shown marked courage and devotion to duty.”
Sources 1
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David Ferguson, The history of the Canterbury Regiment N.Z.E.F. : 1914-1919 (Auckland: Whitcombe and Tombs, 1921). Sources used |
More information 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1737549 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=75568c47-e3a5-4980-8000-faf1b8f9731f |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7184734 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=264445 |
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C16280 |