Walter Stephen FILMER
Year of Birth: 1893
Place of Birth: Noradjuha near Horsham, Victoria, Australia
Date of Enlistment: 2 February 1916
Date and Place of Embarkation: 29 March 1916, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Ship: HMAT Orontes
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 22nd Infantry Battalion
Regimental Number: 4426
Died: 3 May 1917
Walter Stephen Filmer was born in 1893 to Oliver James Filmer and his wife Rose Emma (nee Stanford). He was the youngest of 7 children and the second son. His siblings were Hazel (b. 1882), Blanche (b. 1884), Albert (b. 1885), Julia (b. 1887), Ethel (b. 1889) and Ruth (b. 1891). His father died in 1900 at Byaduk, Victoria and his mother was his next of kin and still living there when Walter enlisted.
Walter was 22 years 9 months of age, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 156 pounds He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was Presbyterian and named his mother as his next of kin. He was a school teacher by profession and was a member of the Citizens Forces.
Walter embarked on the HMAT Orontes from Melbourne on 29 March 1916 proceeding to England where he underwent further training. He joined his battalion in France on 20 September 1916 and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 16 December 1916.
He spent time in hospital sick in England in February 1917, returning to France on 9 March 1917.
He was killed in action at Bullecourt on 3 May 1917 and is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Picardie, France.
His brother Albert was farming in Queensland when he enlisted on 14 February 1917 and returned to Australia in January 1919 to resume farming at Miles on the western Darling Downs.
His sister Blanche was married and living in Gordonvale, and the Cairns Post published her letter and poem written by Walter on 12 June 1917.
His full story is recorded on the website of the Shire of Alberton (Gippsland, Victoria)
Online Resources
NAA: B2455: (FIL MER W S) National Archives of Australia
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
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