The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (407956) Flying Officer Charles William Walker, No. 50 Squadron (RAF), Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (407956) Flying Officer Charles William Walker, No. 50 Squadron (RAF), Second World War.

407956 Flying Officer Charles William Walker, No. 50 Squadron (RAF)

Flying Battle 18 December 1942

Today we remember and pay tribute to Flying Officer Charles William Walker.

Charles Walker, the son of Edwin and Myrtle Walker, was born on 19 February 1909 in the inner Adelaide suburb of Brompton.

Nicknamed “Chilla”, Walker grew up in Adelaide, and soon became known as an excellent cricketer. He made his first-class debut for South Australia in 1929 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and his form led to his inclusion in the 1930 Australian tour of England.

On 29 October 1932, Walker married Daphne Gaskin at Hindmarsh Church. While his cricketing career continued, a succession of finger injuries meant that he missed the 1934 England tour. He was chosen for the 1938 Ashes tour of England, but again suffered a succession of injuries and did not play in a Test.

Walker enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 3 February 1941, and after training in Australia, was assigned to 14 Operational Training Unit, which operated from RAF Cottesmore in Rutland, England, training night bomber crews.

As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, Walker was one of almost 27,000 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners, and engineers who joined Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force squadrons in Britain throughout the course of the war.

Walker was transferred to 50 Squadron, which took part in the RAF's strategic bombing offensive against Germany. It re-equipped with Avro Manchester twin-engine medium bombers in April 1942, and contributed 17 Manchesters to Operation Milliennium – the “1,000 aircraft” raid against Cologne in late May 1942.

The squadron then re-equipped with four-engined Avro Lancaster bombers.

On 17 December 1942, Walker was a crew member of a Lancaster that was involved in a raid over Saltau in Germany. After taking off just after 5 pm, the aircraft was not heard from or seen again.

It was assumed that it had been shot down while over the target, and with no further information available, the crewmembers were presumed dead:
• Flight Lieutenant John Atkinson,
• Sergeant Francis Martin,
• Flight Officer William Rowling,
• Sergeant Henry Smith,
• Sergeant James O’Neill,
• Sergeant John Reilly,
• and Flying Officer Charles Walker, who was 33 years old.

Charles Walker’s body was never recovered. Today he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial on the banks of the Thames in London. Sometimes known as the Air Forces Memorial, it commemorates more than 20,000 airmen and women who were lost in the Second World War and who have no known grave.

As a mark of remembrance and respect, the South Australian Cricket Association to this day presents the Charlie Walker Trophy to the best wicket-keeper in Adelaide Grade Cricket.

Charles Walker’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among almost 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Flying Officer Charles William Walker, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.