Harold Bridgwood Walker
Harold Bridgwood (‘Hooky’) Walker was the son of the Rev. James Walker of Fox Earth, Staffordshire. He left Jesus College, Cambridge without taking his degree and was commissioned in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry from the Militia on 14 May 1884. He served in the Sudan (1884–5), in Egypt (1885–6), on the North-West Frontier (1897–8), and in South Africa (1899–1902), where he was awarded the DSO. From May 1898 until March 1900, he had his first taste of staff work as DAQMG Indian Intelligence. From July 1903 until July 1904 he was Assistant Commandant, School of Mounted Infantry, where he displayed an aptitude as a trainer of troops that was to stand him in good stead during the Great War.
After twenty years’ service in the DCLI, Walker transferred to the Border Regiment in 1904. His pre-war career is, in some respects, quite curious. Despite his often-expressed dislike for staff work, and despite not having passed Staff College, Walker had clearly taken the staff path.
When the European War broke out he was GSO1 in India with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He had never commanded a battalion. Perceptions of him as a staff officer were confirmed when he was promoted brigadier-general in December 1914 and appointed BGGS ANZAC Corps. The post proved to be doubly unsympathetic. Walker did not like being a staff officer. He left the work of drafting orders to his brilliant subordinate, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Skeen, and made no pretence of not doing this. Walker was also alone on Birdwood’s staff in opposing the Gallipoli landings. In spite of this he was the first ANZAC staff officer to land on the peninsula, around 8 a.m. on 25 April. He had, whether he knew it or not, terminated his staff career.
Four days after landing on Gallipoli, Walker was given command of 1st Australian Brigade. The following month he was given temporary command of 1st Australian Division. The appointment of a ‘permanent’ successor, James Legge, on 24 June did not go down well among Legge’s fellow Australians, James McCay and John Monash, both of whom were Legge’s senior. Walker was also senior but he, characteristically, made no fuss.
Walker was never pliable but he was a stranger to ‘temperament’. His reward was to be given ‘permanent’ command of 1st Australian Division in July 1915. He remained in command until he was wounded on 13 October while visiting his front line trenches. The wound put him out of action until March 1916, by which time 1st Australian Division had deployed to the Western Front.
Walker commanded 1st Australian Division in France until June 1918, when he was sacrificed to the political decision to ‘Australianise’ senior appointments in the Australian Corps. During the first part of the war, at least, formation commanders were expected to show a ‘can do’ mentality. Walker’s attitude was more ‘won’t do’. He point blank refused to allow 1st Australian Division to take part in the pointless and horribly botched attack at Fromelles in July 1916. Instead, 5th Australian Division, commanded by the Australian McCay, was sacrificed. Whether Walker could have got away with such insubordination had he been in command of a British division may be doubted. He also regarded the Bullecourt battles in May 1917 as ‘eyewash stunts’, but was unable to extricate his division from them. He was never to forgive Hubert Gough for perpetrating them.
Thereafter Walker never automatically accepted orders. He had to be convinced that an attack was worthwhile and that his men had a reasonable chance of success at acceptable cost. This attitude and his frequent appearances in the front line won him the respect of the ordinary Australian soldier. Throughout his command he maintained 1st Australian Division at a high standard of training.
After his supercession, Walker commanded 48th (South Midland) Division TF in Italy. He commanded all British forces in that theatre in 1919. He was GOC Southern Command, India (1924–8). Lieutenant-General Sir Harold Walker retired from the army on 26 May 1928.