The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (SX17507) Private Gilbert John Walker, 2/10th Battalion (Infantry), Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial every 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 Blanch the story for this day was on (SX17507) Private Gilbert John Walker, 2/10th Battalion (Infantry), Second World War.

SX17507 Private Gilbert John Walker, 2/10th Battalion
KIA 1 July 1945
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 1 July 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Private Gilbert John Walker.

Born in 1921 in Port Lincoln, South Australia, Gilbert John Walker worked as a barman in Adelaide before volunteering for the Australian Imperial Force in February 1942. After completing his initial training, he served in various units in South Australia and became engaged to Gloria O Malley from Adelaide in mid-December. Less than a fortnight later, Walker was sent to Papua as reinforcement for the 2/10th Battalion.

Raised with men from South Australia, by 1943 the 2/10th Battalion was a veteran unit. In 1941 it had fought against the Germans and Italians in the Libyan Desert during the siege of Tobruk, and in 1942 against the Japanese in Papua at Milne Bay and Sanananda.

The 2/10th Battalion returned to Australia in March 1943, and soon afterwards Walker was hospitalised with malaria. The South Australians returned to Papua five months later for the gruelling campaign in New Guinea's Finisterre Range in early 1944. But in January Walker was again hospitalised with malaria and was evacuated to Australia in May. Although his health remained poor for much of the rest of the year, this did not stop him from marrying Gloria.

By 1945, fighting in the Pacific had moved beyond New Guinea, with Australian and Allied forces conducting a series of amphibious operations on Borneo. On 1 July, the 2/10th Battalion played a leading role in the landing at Balikpapan on Borneo's north-east coast. After three days of fierce fighting, the South Australians had secured the feature named "Parramatta Ridge" but 17 men from the battalion were dead, including Walker. He and several others had been killed when their position was accidentally bombed by Allied aircraft.

Gloria received the telegram informing her of her husband's death in mid-July. He was "Jack" to his parents and siblings, but "Johnnie" to his wife. His family were soon overwhelmed with letters, cards, telegrams and expressions of sympathy. The 'in memoriam' notices the Walker family placed in their local newspaper hint at the solace they tried to find for their loss. Gloria's read: "Resting in a soldier's grave, honoured with Australia's brave". From his parents, brother and two sisters: "He gave his life to his country; His love was ours, courage was his own." One from a sister reads: "What ever else I fail to do, I never fail to think of you - Always remembered."
Private Gilbert Walker is buried in Labuan War Cemetery in north-west Borneo. His name is recorded on Adelaide's Wall of Remembrance near the South Australian National War Memorial.

His name is also listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with around 40,000 others from the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Gilbert John Walker, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.