L/Cpl
Ernest Victor Walker
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 01/07/1886 |
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Place of birth: Whangarei, Whangarei, New Zealand |
General information
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Profession: Railroad Worker |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 15437 |
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Enlistment date: 03/04/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Units: — New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/01/1918 |
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Place of death: Reutel, Beselare, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Cemetery
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Polygon Wood Cemetery Plot: Unknown Row: D Grave: 5 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Ernest Victor Walker, a former railroad worker, was born in July 1886 in Whangarei, New Zealand. He was married to May Evelyn Paton but became a widower before enlisting. He joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on the 3rd of April 1916. Upon his enlistment he joined the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, part of the New Zealand Division.
The Battle of Passchendaele had ended on 10 November 1917 and the newly established Allied frontline had to be consolidated and defended. The New Zealand Division was in the Polygon Wood sector after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres.
On January 2nd, 1918, the 3rd Brigade relieved the 4th Brigade in the old sector. The frontline was now divided into three battalion sub-sectors. That on the right was named “Reutel”, the central sub-sector was known as “Judge” and the one on the left was named “Noord”. The 2nd Battalion took over Reutel sub-sector. German shelling was persistent during the relief and the battalion suffered several casualties. Much of the time at the front line was spent in wiring communication lines, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defences.
Lance Corporal Walker aged 31 was killed on January 3rd, 1918. He was buried at Polygon Wood Cemetery, row 8, grave 5.
The Battle of Passchendaele had ended on 10 November 1917 and the newly established Allied frontline had to be consolidated and defended. The New Zealand Division was in the Polygon Wood sector after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres.
On January 2nd, 1918, the 3rd Brigade relieved the 4th Brigade in the old sector. The frontline was now divided into three battalion sub-sectors. That on the right was named “Reutel”, the central sub-sector was known as “Judge” and the one on the left was named “Noord”. The 2nd Battalion took over Reutel sub-sector. German shelling was persistent during the relief and the battalion suffered several casualties. Much of the time at the front line was spent in wiring communication lines, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defences.
Lance Corporal Walker aged 31 was killed on January 3rd, 1918. He was buried at Polygon Wood Cemetery, row 8, grave 5.
Sources 4
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L. Corp. E. V. Walker, of Auckland, Killed in action, Auckland Libraries Heritage Images Collection https://digitalnz.org/ Sources used |
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Lieut.-Col. Austin, W.S., "The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (the Earl of Liverpool's Own) Covering the period of service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War from 1915 to 1919", Uckfield, the Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2007, 255-260. Sources used |
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New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), R22014948) https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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War diary (Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), R10112471) https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480078 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=66e81c62-c2fc-4388-b3e2-f040e00db20a |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=263788 |
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C16245 |