MANTON, Walter Lawry

Walter was a son of John and Mary Manton. He came to Inverell about 1903 and at the time of his enlistment in March 1916 was the Shire Clerk at Ashford. His enlistment papers record he was a forty-one-year-old married man. Residents at Ashford organised a ‘send-off’ for Walter, presenting him with a travelling bag. A month later he attended a ‘send-off’ at Inverell Council Chambers where he was presented with a wrist watch.

Walter joined the Engineer Reinforcements and in August 1916 was appointed Signaller and transferred to the Depot Signal Training Company, 18th Battalion, 15th Reinforcements, at Liverpool. He sailed from Australia for England on HMAT A14 Euripides in September. By the end of the year, he was in France. The following year he was treated for Trench Fever for several months. He returned to England in June 1918, came home to Australia, and was medically discharged in December.

Walter’s name is recorded on the Ashford Honor Roll.