SERGEANT WALTER FINLAY
son of Mrs. E. Finlay, Windsor, has a fine record of service. He was one of the first to respond to the call for men. enlisting six days after war was declared, and marching into camp as soon as it was opened.
He was drafted to the 6th Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade, and sailed as a corporal with this battalion. He took part in the historic landing on Gallipoli, and remained there until the evacuation, except for a short time spent on the Island of Imbros as “unfit.”
In January, 1916. he transferred to the Camel Corps, which was at once sent to quell the Senussi rising, and in March of the next year his corps was hastily moved to Palestine, arriving in time to take part in the disastrous battle of Gaza. In April of the same year another engagement, resulting in a heavy casualty list, took place, in which he distinguished himself. when his officer fell, by leading the men to their objective through heavy fire. C.S.M. Longmorth writes of his achievement :- "When his officer fell, Walter took his place and led the section through ‘hell’ right to their place.”
“There is not a man of his section who does not speak in a most loving and respectful way of the manner in which he bore himself and led them that day.”
Sheer lack of men forced this corps to retire, with 93 casualties out of 125 men, and he was one of the missing.
Six months later at a Court of Inquiry he was officially reported “Killed in action,: though there was no direct evidence.
[Varsity Engineer Memorial Book, University of Melbourne]
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