FINN, Peter and Walter

Peter and Walter were the sons of Richard and Jane Finn of Little Plain, west of Inverell.  Their births were registered at Inverell; Peter in 1893, Walter in 1895.

Peter enlisted at Inverell on 30 September 1916 having previously been rejected because of his teeth. At Little Plain the residents gathered to farewell and present him with a fountain pen and wallet. At Inverell he was one of twenty four men farewelled at the Town Hall where each man was presented with an Inverell medal and a pair of socks.  Peter joined the 54th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement and left Australia on HMAT A29 Suevic on 11 November 1916. He arrived in England at the end of January 1917 and did not go to France until October that year.  He returned home in March 1919.

Walter enlisted at Liverpool NSW in November 1916 and joined the 33rd Battalion, 7th Reinforcement.  He left Australia on HMAT A68 Anchises in January 1917. After his arrival in England in March he was ill on several occasions.  Eventually Walter died of disease on 13 May 1918. He was given a full military funeral and buried at Compton Chamberlayne Cemetery, Wiltshire, England. His personal effects, which included photos, cards, notebook and wallet were returned to his Father.

The names of Peter and Walter are recorded on the Mt. Russell Honor Roll and on the new gates at Anzac Park, Delungra, NSW.  Private Peter Finn’s name is inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll and Cenotaph.  In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell.