Walter Parker (Australian soldier)

Walter Parker (11 August 1894 – 22 January 2000) was an Australian soldier and the third last surviving veteran of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in World War I.^[2]

Parker, one of eight children pre-war plans for a career in Sydney as a commercial art printer was set aside when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at age 20. His father had signed his enlistment on the condition he was not sent to New Guinea, as he feared the malaria^[1] Parker who initially thought he was being sent to England arrived at the Battle of Gallipoli in November 1915 with the 20th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements. He was tasked with carrying ammunition and water through the trenches to the front. After his evacuation from Turkey, he fought in France. He was shot in the arm at Pozières; and then he was invalided to England.^[2]

After returning to Australia, Parker was married to Amy McPhail for 52 years married and had two children, a son and a daughter. His son Earle was killed in World War II. He was survived by three grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.^[2]

In 2000, Parker was recognized with Roy Longmore and Alec Campbell as one of the "Australian Legends". His name and photograph were part of an annual series of commemorative postage stamps issued by Australia Post since 1997. The stamps honour living Australians "who have made lifetime contributions to the development of Australia's national identity and character".^[3] Parker did not live to fully enjoy this accolade, as he died at a nursing home in Melbourne the day after the stamp was officially issued.^[4]

Parker's 45-cent Legend stamp displays the soldier's portrait as a young man, photographed just prior to his departure for Gallipoli. Formal photographs of the other two ANZAC centenarians complete this stamp set, titled The Last ANZACS. In addition, a fourth stamp features the 1914–15 star medal which was presented to all those who fought in campaigns during those war years.^[5] These stamps, designed by Cathleen Cram of the Australia Post Design Studio, commemorate the story of events and people shaping contemporary Australia.^[6] The Parker stamp honours him as an individual and as a representative of all the soldiers at Gallipoli whose actions affected Australia's evolving self-image.^[7]

• 1914-15 Star
• British War Medal
• Victory Medal (UK)
• 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal, 1999 (Australia).^[2]
• Centenary Medal (Australia)
• Australia Post Australian Legends Award, 2000.^[5]
• Legion d'Honneur, 1998 (France).^[2]

• Alec Campbell, last living Anzac
• Roy Longmore, next to last living Anzac

• "Australia Day: Australian Legends," Stamp Bulletin (Australia Post). No. 254. March–May 2000.
• "156 years collecting Australian graphic art," Priority (Australia Post). Issue 32, 2000.