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Walter Leslie Brooks - Information

Walter was born and raised in Picton, on the family property on Lumsdane Rd. Walter worked as a horse driver in the area, and at the age of 19, enlisted in Picton on the 2nd of February 1917. He commenced his training at the Royal Showground Camp in Sydney, and became a Trooper with the 2nd reinforcements, 4th Camel Regiment at Menangle Park Camp. Farewelling his family, he was then shipped out from Sydney on the 17th of February 1917 on the RMS Morea. In March, Walter disembarked in Bombay and was transferred abroad the Mashobra.

Sailing into the Suez Canal in April, he was marched out to Details Camp in Moascar the following month. Walter was then posted to the 4th ANZAC Imperial Camel Brigade, attached to Brigade Headquarters in early June. He then joined the 18th Company, conducting patrols into Palestine. Just before Christmas, Walter reported sick with debility, and was then admitted to the 24th Stationary Hospital, diagnosed with malaria. In July, he was transferred to the 4th Light Horse Regiment. Walter joined his new unit, as they were chasing the Turks along the Palestinian Coast. They then launched an attack against Damascus, entering the city of October 1st. At the end of the month, Walter was taken to hospital in Abbassia with dysentery. The following day, Turkish forces surrendered and the Middle Eastern war was over. In January 1919, Walter joined his unit, and continued to serve with them until he was sent home upon the HT Essex on the 15th of June 1919.