Walter PAGE #2442

Indigenous Australian, Walter Page, 11th Light Horse Regiment

Walter Page was born at Coraki, NSW in 1889 and was employed as a labourer when he enlisted in Lismore, NSW in July 1917. Although married, he had separated from his wife Annie Fogarty, who resided in Beaudesert, Queensland.

Page trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera, where he had been assigned to the 20th Reinforcements for the 11th Light Horse Regiment, which is where this image would have been taken.

Two enterprising photographers set up tent studios outside the camp grounds and soldiers were encouraged to have their photographs taken. Over 30,000 of these images were published in The Queenslander Pictorial over the duration of the war.

Page was found to be absent without leave on several occasions, the last being in November 1917. An enquiry into his 'illegal absence' was held in January 1918 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was eventually discharged from any further service in March 1918 'unlikely to become an efficient soldier'.

Read more:

• Service record: PAGE, Walter
• One of the soldiers featured in SLQ’s HistoryPin Collection
• Queensland’s Indigenous Servicemen [oral history]

The information in this blog post has been researched by State Library staff and volunteers, it is based on available information at this time. If you have more information that you would like to share or further research uncovers new findings, this post will be updated.