The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Lance Corporal Gilbert Walker

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Gilbert Ramsay Walker

Ancestor's date of birth: 22/01/1876

Ancestor's date of death: 01/07/1916

Cause of Death: Dengue Fever

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Timber getter in Pullenvale with his father who had emigrated from Glascow in Scotland. They were early settlers in this area and cut cedar trees which were made into massive rafts and floated down the Brisbane River to Toowong where they were milled into timber. His son (my grandfather)would eventually work in the timber mill, in charge of the steam engine system which drove the saws.

Service Number: 42

Colony or State of enlistment: QLD Place of Enlistment: Brisbane

Unit: 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry.

Rank attained in Boer War: LCPL, Date Effective: <= 1899

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No post war military service.

Murray Page: 454

Contingent: First Queensland.

Ship: Cornwall, Date of Sailing: 01/11/1899

Memorial details: QMI Museum Enoggera QLD.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. Queen's South Africa Medal with Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Relief of Kimberley clasps.

Personal Characteristics: Attended Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in London representing QMI/Qld in 1897. Received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. Was a qualified marksman.

Reasons to go and fight: A serving soldier.

Details of service in war: December 1899 - December 1900 in northwest Cape Colony including victory over rebel band at Sunnyside (1 January 1900) and Relief of Kimberley (15 February 1900) Free State includinc capture of Bloemfontein (10 March 1900), and east Transvaal including Johannesburg (31 May 1900), and Diamond Hill (11 to 12 June 1900).

Service and life after the Boer War: After the Boer War, Gilbert left the Army and became a sworn member of the Qld Police Service, serving in many parts of the State (Brisbane, Tallebudgera, South Brisbane, Aramac, Longreach, Blackall, Brisbane and Wynnum). But suffered continuing illness from dengue fever late in his Police service. So left the Police and became a tram driver at Toowong before passing away at age 40.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Garry James Spencer, Mentone VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson


 

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RUSI of NSW Boer War Battlefields