Ken Walker, died of wounds received at Steele's Post

The poignant story of the death of the youthful 2nd Lieutenant Kenneth Walker, a protege of Lieut-Colonel Pompey Elliot, told by Rod Martin.








Image courtesy of Kim Phillips of the Spirits of Gallipoli website.

Pompey Elliott's memorial

Rod Martin has visited the grave of Brigadier-General H E 'Pompey' Elliott and found this wonderful soldier's memorial. 

Elliott was the commanding officer of the 58th Infantry Battalion (Essendon Rifles),  Citizens' Military Force in 1914.  He subsequently raised the 7th Infantry Battalion, AIF and went on to become one of Australia's great WW1 military leaders.

Hardiman's Hotel, formerly the Clarence Hotel

Hardiman's Hotel, Macaulay Road, Kensington, was formerly the Clarence Hotel, and home of three Hardiman brothers who enlisted in the Great War.   This is one of the sites we will be visiting on tomorrow's heritage walk.

Kevin Hardiman was badly wounded in France in 1917 and had his leg amputated.

Gerald Hardiman was wounded at Lone Pine, and discharged from the AIF in 1916, medically unfit.












The third brother, Robert Vincent Hardiman, who was the manager of the hotel when he enlisted at the age of 23 in 1917, went to Rabaul with the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force.  He was discharged in December 1918 when the AIF was demobilised, and died five months later.

Kensington State School

A vist to the school in 2010 did not produce any information as to whether there was ever an honour board for the pupils of the school who volunteered for the First World War.   The small centenary  history of the school produced in 1981 does not mention a board, nor can any reference be found in the online Argus to indicate that one was installed.  It would be very unusual if an honour board was not installed,  so perhaps one was removed many years ago.  If anyone has any information about such a board, a photograph, or a list of names from the board, please get in touch.

In the meantime I am slowly assembling a list of volunteers from the school who volunteered in the First World War, any additional information is very welcome.