Sergeant Lewis Edward Walker
- Rank
- Sergeant
- Service number
- WX4080
- Unit
- 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died of Wounds
- Place of death
- Aitape, Papua New Guinea
- Date of death
- 13 June 1945
- Age
- 26
- Plaque number
- L199
- Dedicated by
- Family on 17 February 2018
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Sergeant Lewis Edward Walker was born in October 1918 at Bridgetown. He was one of two sons and three daughters, born to Edward Charles and Lillian Augustus Walker who lived in Bridgetown.
He was educated at Bridgetown state school and was a great sportsman at football and cricket.
After schooling, he became an orchardist in the Bridgetown area. He was well thought of in the community and much loved by his family.
He enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force in Northam in June 1940 and was allotted to the 2/3 machine gun battalion.
This unit comprised of enlistments from South Australia for 'A' company, Victoria for ’B’ company, Tasmania for 'C' company and Western Australia for ‘D’ company.
Initially, the unit fought in the middle east in 1941. In February 1942, with the Japanese advances down the Malay Peninsula and into New Guinea, the unit was recalled to Australia. Then, in February 1942, British forces surrendered in Malaya.
The troopships carrying 2/3 machine gun battalion and other support units of 7 division were directed to Java. Most of the battalion was captured. The remainder travelling separately, returned to Australia where the unit was reformed and reinforced. In December 1944, the unit went to New Guinea and from February 1945 fought as infantry.
Sergeant Lewis Edward Walker, service number WX4080 of 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion, died of wounds at Aitape, Papua New Guinea on 13 June 1945.
He was 26 years of age and is interred in the Lae War Cemetery, New Guinea.