Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Born at Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, on 1 June 1884, Walter was the son of Joseph Henry and Janet Catherine Pike.

When he enlisted into the Canterbury Mounted Rifles on 25 August 1915, he was a self employed photographer living at Fairlie, South Canterbury. He gave his address as Post Office Box 122, Fairlie, and his father, Mr J.H. Pike, of Wyee, New South Wales, Australia, as his next of kin. He was described as being single, Presbyterian, 5 foot 10 ¾ inches tall, weighing 174 lbs, chest measuring 39 inches, of fresh complexion, grey eyes, black hair and having good teeth. Promoted to Corporal on 12 September, he left with the 7th Reinforcements from Wellington on 9 October 1915, aboard the Aparima, Navua, or Warrimoo, bound for Suez, Egypt. Whilst at sea, he was promoted to Sergeant and arrived in Alexandria on 18 November 1915. Too late for service in Gallipoli, Walter was to serve in Egypt and the Canal Zone during 1915 and 1916. He reverted back to Trooper on 1 January 1916, and on 26 January, was hospitalised at Ismailia with dysentery, returning to his unit on 12 February. On 10 July, he was again hospitalised until 24 July, at Port Said, with dysentery and piles. September 30th saw him again admitted to NZ General Hospital at Port Said, with diarrhoea. Being found being physically unfit for further military service, he was, on 21 November 1916, returned to New Zealand aboard SS Ayrshire, arriving in NZ on 7 January 1917. Walter was discharged from the army on 5 February 1917. After war’s end, he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service.

During his time in Egypt, Walter's younger brother Rifleman Harold Pike (no.23/1152) was also serving with the NZ Rifle Brigade. On 20 March 1917, Walter applied for, and was accepted into the Army Temporary Staff, as a Sergeant-Instructor at Christchurch. Later he was transferred to Trentham, and was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on 20 September 1917. In January, 1920, he was selected for the Permanent Staff. In June, 1922, on account of a reduction of establishments in the Permanent Forces, it was found necessary to retrench, and he, along with many others, was discharged. In the meantime, on 30 September 1918, he had married at Christchurch to Miss Dorothy Mabel Vaughan, and on 2 February 1920, his daughter Audrey Patricia was born at Rangiora.

Prior to enlisting while living in Fairlie, Walter was involved in the Fairlie Branch of the NZ Farmers Union and the Fairlie Orchestral and Dramatic Society. His community service continued whilst living in Rangiora, where he was involved in many different organisations including serving as a Town Councillor, secretary/treasurer/member of the North Canterbury A & P Association, Brass & Silver Bands, RSA, Library, Canterbury Automobile Association, Instructor Rangiora Ladies Physical Club, Regimental Sergeant Major of Territorial’s, plus many other minor groups. At this time he was also running his own accountancy business which unfortunately, in 1926, ran into financial difficulties. 1928 saw him in Auckland, where worked as a gas company employee and inspector while also again involving himself in the community, including serving with the Ratepayer Associationn and Orphans’ Club. In 1934, he again applied to rejoin the Permanent Forces, but there were no positions available. In 1936, he applied for a position as a clerk with the NZ Labour Department, and continued in this employment, until his death on 11 October 1959. Walter was cremated at the Purewa Crematorium.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotpah Database (August 2015); Military Personnel file at NZ Archives (August 2015); New Zealand ANZACs in the Great War 1914-1918 at http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=205285 (2 September 2015)

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Ted Hansen, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.