John Preston Walker (16 May 1892 – 27 July 1916) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League. He was killed while on active service in France during World War I.
| Jack Walker | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpeg) | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | John Preston Walker | ||
| Date of birth | 16 May 1892 | ||
| Place of birth | North Brighton, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 27 July 1916 (aged 24) | ||
| Place of death | Pozières, France | ||
| Original team(s) | Dandenong and Melbourne Grammar | ||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1910–11 | St Kilda | 4 (2) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1911. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editThe son of William Henry Walker (1860–1949), and Florance Maud Walker, née Williams,[1] John Preston Walker was born at North Brighton, Victoria on 16 May 1892.[2]
Education
editHe was educated at the Melbourne Grammar School. He played in the school's First XVIII in 1908 and 1909.[3] He was captain of the school's First XI in 1908.[4]
At the combined public schools sport meeting held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 3 May 1906, Walker tied for first place in the Under-14 High jump, with a leap of 4 ft 5in (135 cm), which broke the existing record.[5][6]
Cricket
editA batsman/wicketkeeper, he played one District Cricket match for the St Kilda Cricket Club's First XI in the 1909–1910 season (1 innings 0 runs; 2 stumpings), and eight matches for the East Melbourne Cricket Club's First XI in the 1911–1912, 1912–1913, and 1913–1914 seasons (6 catches, 3 stumpings; 9 innings, 178 runs, highest score 61 runs).[7][8][9]
Football
editSt Kilda (VFL)
editHe played in four First XVIII matches with St Kilda. His first match was in the final round of the 1910 season, against Carlton on 3 September 1910 in which St Klda 5.6 (36) defeated Carlton 2.12 (24) – it was St Kilda's only win for the season.[10][11][12]
He also played three games in the 1911 season.[13]
Dandenong Football Club (DBDA)
editAfter leaving St Kilda, he played with the Dandenong Football Club in the Dandenong and Berwick District Association in 1913 and 1914.[14]
Military service
editHe enlisted in the First AIF on 4 January 1915, and left Australia on 14 April 1915 on the HMAT Wiltshire.[15] He served with the 8th Australian Infantry Battalion in Gallipoli and France, and was promoted to Sergeant on 2 May 1916.
Death
editHe was killed (instantly) in action during the Battle of Pozières on 27 July 1916.[16][17] Buried that evening in a shell-hole, he has no known grave.[18]
He is commemorated at the Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial, and at the Melbourne Grammar School Honour Roll.[19]
On Monday, 28 August 1916, the Dandenong Town Hall flag was flown at half mast;[20] and, on Saturday, 2 September 1916, in their match against the Navy Office, the Dendenong Patriotics players wore armbands out of respect for the late Sergeant Jack Walker, recently killed in France.[21]
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ Marriages: Walker—Williams, The Argus, (Saturday, 27 August 1887), p1.
- ^ Births: Walker, The Age, (Monday, 30 May 1892), p.1.
- ^ Public Schools' Cricket: Melbourne Grammar School v. Geelong Grammar School, The Geelong Advertiser, (Monday, 15 November 1909), p.6.
- ^ Ryan, Michael, "From Saint to Soldier: Moorabbin boy John P. "Jack" Walker paid the ultimate price for our freedom", saints.com.au, 24 April 2018.
- ^ 'Old Boy', "College Sports", (Saturday, 12 May 1906), p.23.
- ^ The School World, The Herald, (Thursday, 9 May 1907), p4.
- ^ Register of V.C.A. 1st XI Pennant, District & Premier Cricketers: 1889-90 to 2018-19 S to Z, Cricket Victoria.
- ^ VCA 1st XI CAREER RECORDS 1889-90 to 2018-19, Cricket Victoria'.
- ^ Here and There, The Herald, (Thursday, 4 April 1912), p.2.
- ^ Club Notes, The Argus, (Friday, 2 September 1910), p.5.
- ^ Football: The League: St. Kilda v. Carlton, The Herald, (Saturday, 3 September 1910), p6.
- ^ St. Kilda's First Win, The Argus, (Monday, 5 September 1910), p.5.
- ^ St. Kilda (10.6) Beat Geelong (6.14), The Age, (Monday, 1 May 1911), p.9.
- ^ Potter (2015).
- ^ HMAT Wiltshire (A18), photograph (Accession number AO4186) in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.]
- ^ Died on Active Service: Walker, The Argus, (Friday, 1 September 1916), p.1.
- ^ Casualties in France, The Argus, (Monday, 4 September 1916), p.8.
- ^ Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files, 1914-18 War: 1DRL/0428: 1825 Sergeant John Preston Walker, in the collection of the Australian War Museum.
- ^ Melbourne Grammar School Honour Roll, Monument Australia.
- ^ The South Bourke and Mornington Journal, (Thursday, 31 August 1916), p.3.
- ^ Football, The South Bourke and Mornington Journal, (Thursday, 7 September 1916), p.2.
References
edit- Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
- World War One Embarkation Roll: Private John Preston Walker (1825), in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.
- John Preston Walker (1825), photograph (accession number DA085250) in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.
- John Preston Walker (1825), photograph (accession number DA08249) in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.
- World War One Service Record: Sergeant John Preston Walker (1825), National Archives of Australia.
- World War One Nominal Roll: Private John Preston Walker (1825), in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.
- Roll of Honour: Sergeant John Preston Walker (1825), Australian War Memorial.
- Australian Casualties: 206th and 207th List Issued: Killed in Action: Victoria, The Argus, (Thursday, 7 September 1916), p.4.
- Potter, J., "Star Destroyed by War", Star Journal, 26 April 2015.
External links
edit- Jack Walker's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Jack Walker at AustralianFootball.com
- Sergeant John Preston Walker (1825), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.