Alfred William Walker

Alfred William Walker

Personal Information
Date of Birth	15 Nov 1916
Place of Birth	Narrogin, Western Australia
Death	21 Jul 1984, aged 67
Place of Death	Rossmoyne, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	24 years, 3 months
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; 184lbs 83.461 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair ; scar in right groin
Occupation	Bus driver
Religion	Methodist
Address	Albany road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. William Albert Walker
Military Information
Reg Number	W16631 & 436575
Date of Enlistment	6 Mar 1941 Army & 5 Feb 1943 RAAF
Rank	Private & Leading Aircraftman
Unit/Formation	AASC Supply Column & No. 8 Communications Unit
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Alfred attended the Byford State School from 1928 until 1931 Alfred married Elizabeth Bateson in Perth on 26 Apr 1941, and their son Keith William was born on 16 Apr 1942. Alfred worked as a Bus driver with the Metropolitan Bus Company.

War Service

Initial enlistment was with the CMF on 6 Mar 1941, and he served with the Western Command AASC Supply Column where he was called up for full time duty on 22 Nov 1941. From 21 Feb 1942 until 21 Mar 1942 Alfred participated in a Driver & Mechanic Course at the Transport Training Centre at Claremont resulting in him being classified as a Driver Motor Transport Grade 2. On 1 Aug 1942 this changed to level 3. Alfred was then posted to the AASC element within the 13th Australian Infantry Brigade Group on 17 Aug 1942 where on the next day he was charged with Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline, which was to cost him 10/- ($1). He was then admitted to the 108th Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 8 Sep 1942 having been seen initially by the 13th Australian Field Ambulance. He was able to rejoin his unit which was now known as 24th Australian Company AASC on 29 Oct 1942 before being released on 3 Feb 1943 in order to join the RAAF.

Alfred enlisted in the RAAF on 5 Feb 1943 at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre mustered as a Guard, and was initially posted the same day to No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF to undertake No. 212 Drill Course until 5 Mar 1943. On 12 Mar 1943 he was posted to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Geraldton, before transfering on 12 Apr 1943 to No. 4 Initial Training School RAAF at Picton Harbour in South Australia. Then, on 13 Jun 1943 he was posted to No. 4 School of Technical Training RAAF in Adelaide as a Trainee Technical Pay Group V and participated in No. 238 Trainee Group II Fitter's Course. He progressed on 4 Sep 1943 to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale to undertake the No. 393 Trainee Fitter/Mechanic course. On 5 Dec 1943 he remustered as a Ftter/Mechanic pay group II, before transferring to No. 35 Squadron RAAF on 16 Dec 1943. On 2 Mar 1944 Alfred was appointed as a Leading Aircraftman.

On 13 Jun 1944 Alfred transferred to No. 85 Squadron RAAF for a time until he moved again on 17 Oct 1944 to No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron RAAF at Pearce, although he remained detached to 85 Squadron until 30 Oct 1944. He moved to No. 2 Personnel Depot RAAF at Bradfield Park in New South Wales on 15 May 1945 and then to No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool RAAF on 18 Jun 1945. Sent to New Guinea he joined the No. 8 Communications Unit from 19 Jul 1945 until 4 Dec 1945 before he returned to No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool RAAF. Finally on 21 Dec 1945 Alfred returned to Western Australia and the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF to undertake his discharge which occurred on 5 Mar 1946.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1954 at 40 Foss road, East Fremantle, bus driver; 1958 at 699 Canning highway, Applecross, builder; 1963 at 55 Ridge street, South Perth, building contractor; 1972 at 39a Boston way, Booragoon, builder; 1977 at 25 Knowle way, Warnbro, retired. In October 1974 Alfred applied for a War Service Housing Loan.