Harold Shaw Walker

(Confirmed)

Born: 30 August, 1884

Died: 19 July, 1916

Biographical Summary:

Harold Shaw Walker had been living in South Africa for a number of years prior to the war. He enlisted in the South African Army soon after the outbreak of the war and participated in the German South West Africa campaign before being sent to Europe. He was serving with the 3rd Battalion, South African Infantry Brigade, when he was killed in action at the Battle of Delville Wood on 19 July 1916 (Death Notice, SMH, 23 July 1917, p6). On that day his battalion was attacked from the rear with entire battalion either killed or captured. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Memorial Wall at Thiepval Memorial.

Note that the Commonwealth War Grave Commission lists his date of death as 1 August 1916 which would reflect a date determined for administrative convenience at that time given so many men had gone missing during the duration of the
battle and whose bodies were never recovered. [JSB]

Service Number: 2272

Ranks:

• Held rank of Lance Corporal

Birth Records:

• 30 August, 1884 in Mosman

Death Records:

• Died on service
• 19 July, 1916 in Longueval

Address:

• 14 Merlin Street Neutral Bay NSW Australia

Relationships:

• father - Arthur Walker
• mother - Doratia Catherine Lemm

Organisations:

• Member of - 3rd Battalion, South African Infantry Brigade

Main Sources:

• Commonwealth War Graves Lance Corporal HAROLD SHAW WALKER (Webpage)
• WITH DE LA REY’S SCOUTS NORTH SYDNEY MAN’S EXPERIENCES Trove (Webpage)
• DEATHS Trove (Website)
• DELVILLE WOOD THE FIRST WORLD WAR HISTORY (Webpage)

Commemorations:

• WALKER H. S. on the West Face of the
• Walker on the St Clement's World War 1 Roll of Honour