Private Alexander Walker
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 2938
- Unit
- 48 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Pozieres, France
- Date of death
- 6 August 1916
- Age
- 29
- Plaque number
- M152A
- Co-located plaques
- M152 - PTE Robert Skinner
- Dedicated by
- Family on 18 May 2019
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private Alexander Walker was born in 1887 at Stranocum, County Antrim, Northern Ireland – one of nine children. He had six brothers and two sisters. His parents were David and Elizabeth Walker.
Alex attended Bushvale primary school in Stranocum, but little is known of his scholastic achievements, nor of his occupational, social or sporting interests. However, it is known that prior to leaving Northern Ireland he had two years military service in the Glenlithgouw Territorials.
With his brother David, he immigrated to Western Australia in 1913, settling in the south west at Mullalyup, where they are believed to have been employed in the hotel industry and as timber workers.
Alexander enlisted in the AIF in July 1915 and was assigned to the 9 Reinforcements of 16 Battalion. On completion of initial training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp he left Australia on HMAT Hororata in October 1915, from Fremantle.
Whilst stationed in Egypt he was briefly hospitalised three times.
In March 1916, Alexander was transferred to 48 Battalion and the unit moved to France in June 1916.
48 Battalion’s first major battle was in August, when it endured what was reportedly the heaviest artillery barrage ever experienced by Australian troops. There were 598 casualties.
Private Alexander Walker, service number 2938 of 48 Battalion, was killed in action on 6 August 1916 at Pozieres, France. He was 29 years of age.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in Picardie, France.
His plaque is placed alongside Private Robert Tierney Skinner, who was in the same 48 Battalion and died on the same day.