Walter SHIELS

Regimental number426
Place of birthRosewater, South Australia
SchoolMarist Brothers Roman Catholic School, South Australia
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFarm hand
AddressMcGregor Terrace, Rosewater, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Next of kinMother, Mrs M Shiels, McGregor Terrace, Rosewater, South Australia
Previous military serviceParticipated in Compulsory Military Training.
Enlistment date9 August 1915
Rank on enlistmentBugler
Unit name32nd Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Machine Gun Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularServed with the 32nd Battalion for two years before transferring to the 5th Machine Gun Battalion. He was gassed at Villers-Bretonneux, France and died at Rouen on 29 April 1918.
FateDied of wounds 29 April 1918
Place of death or woundingRouen, France
Age at death20
Age at death from cemetery records20
Place of burialSt. Sever Cemetery Extension (Block P, Plot XI, Row J, Grave No. 6B), Rouen, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
177
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Charles and Margaret SHIELS, McGregor Terrace, Rosewater, South Australia. Commemorated in Cheltenham Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia.
Medals

Military Medal


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95
Date: 27 June 1918

Family/military connectionsBrother: 614 Pte Richard SHIELS, 32nd Bn, returned to Australia, 8 May 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal