Walter was born at Dungog in 1893 John and Francis (Frances)(nee Simmonds),
The 34th Battalion was formed in January 1916 during an expansion of the AIF that took place after the Gallipoli campaign. The majority of the battalion’s personnel were volunteers that came from Maitland, New South Wales. Walter enlisted with the 2nd Reinforcements, 34 Battalion on the 10th of March 1916 aged 22 years and 8 months. After initial training the 2nd Reinforcements embarked aboard HMAT A15 Port Sydney, at Sydney on the 4th of September to disembark at Plymouth on the 29th of October to march in to the 9th Training Battalion
After five months of training on Salisbury Plain, the 34th Battalion arrived in France in November and moved up to the front line soon after its arrival, taking up a position on the 27th of November 1916. The 2nd Reinforcements proceeded overseas per Princess Victoria from Folkestone on the 20th of December arriving at 3rd ADBD, Etaples the next day. Over Christmas period, they were to endure the worst winter Europe experienced in 40 years during which time Walter marched out to join his unit on the 17th of January 1917 and was taken on strength the next day.
The battalion’s first major action came in mid-1917 with focus shifting to the Ypres sector in Belgium. The 3rd Division was committed to the Battle of Messines and the 34th Battalion, along with the rest of the 9th Brigade, was tasked with leading the division’s assault. Beginning their approach march late on the 6th of June, they were caught in a German gas bombardment that inflicted heavy casualties; nevertheless, they arrived at the line of departure on time and, after a number of mines were exploded in front of their positions, the assault began. The exploding mines destroyed a large part of the German line and as a result initial resistance was quickly overcome. By 5 am on the 7th, the division had gained the crest of the Messines Ridge and dug-in to defend against a possible counterattack, with the 34th occupying a position around Grey Farm.
Following Messines, the 34th Battalion was rotated between manning the front line and conducting training in rear areas, before joining the Battle of Passchendaele on the 12th of October. Despite beginning promisingly for the Allies, by the time the 34th arrived heavy rain had turned the battlefield into a muddy quagmire that hindered their advance and ultimately resulted in heavy casualties and limited gains; for the 34th the losses were particularly heavy, representing 50 per cent of its strength. On the 20th of October Walter was reported ‘Missing in Action’ on the 12th and it was not until the 25th of March 1918 he was reported ‘Killed in Action’ on the 12th of October the previous year.
Statement by Private K. Maher of the 34th Battalion dated 8th of March 1918: ‘On 12th October 1917 at Ypres, Private Turner was alongside of me and was killed by a machine gun bullet. I examined him and he was dead.’
