Regimental number: 7202 Rank: Private
Returned to Australia (RTA)
Walter Henry Bullock was born in 1889 in Brisbane to Edward and Harriett Bullock. He was enrolled in Bulimba School in 1895 and went on to work as a postman. He lived at home in Nuttall Street, Bulimba.
Walter enlisted in Brisbane on 24 September 1916 aged 27 years. He initially served in the 11th Depot Battalion as a Private before being designated a signaller with the 15th Infantry Battalion. He embarked from Sydney, Australia on the “HMAT Ayrshire” A33 on 24 January 1917 and arrived in Devonport, England on 12 April 1917. Walter attended the No. 4 Group Signal School in Southampton, England before being posted to France on 17 October 1917 where he served until 7 April 1919.
Returning to England he applied for a post-war training course with the Postal Telephone Factory in Birmingham from April to June before returning to Australia on 13 October 1919.
The Bullock family still lived in Nuttall Street. To celebrate Walter’s home coming the family had decorated the family home, as encouraged by the government.
Private Walter Bullock was discharged on 21 November 1919. He was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
After the war some of the ex-soldiers became members of the RSSILA (Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia), and by 1921, Walter was active on the Committee in Balmoral as were other fellow ex-soldiers. He also returned to Post Office employment, married Anna Martha Tyler in 1924 and was involved in the local Methodist Church. Walter retired in 1954, after 41 years of service for the Post Office.
Walter Henry Bullock died in 1974 aged 85 years and is buried at Mt Thompson Crematorium.
Walter’s son, Jack has commented, “The palm tree for my father was planted on the corner of Oxford and Godwin Streets on the footpath. The tree was removed when the corner was truncated for ease of traffic movement and never replaced. I can remember, as a lad, being shown the tree in the mid-1930’s.”
Walter’s son, John recalls his father, Walter Henry Bullock, and his maternal uncle Francis Wesley Tyler both served in Europe during the First World War, with Mr Tyler being awarded the Military Medal for bravery.
