COATE, Walter Hamilton

Walter's biography is somewhat limited and difficult to detail due to the lack of precise detail, however, the following can be gleaned from the documents.

MILITARY NOTES:

• Enlisted at Melbourne on 15th January 1915 aged 43 years.  Previously served in the 2nd Scottish Horse in South Africa
• Attestation papers indicate he was 5 feet 51/2 inches tall and weighed 10 stone 5 lbs at enlistment.
• Only 3 days after enlistmet on the 18 of January 1915 he was placed on detention for 12 days for unspecified misdeamours.
• Embarked for overseas service on 8th May 1915 and proceeded to France on the 2nd September 1916.
• Returned to England on he 11th November 1916 per HS Aberdonian and immediately admitted to Reading War Hospital with 'French feet and haemorroids'.
• embarked for Australia on the 4th May 1917 per the HT Militiades for discharge as he was described as "non effective" due to "senility".
• Walter's war service was interrupted by many crimes and offences for which he was punished severely and was eventually discharged on 11th August 1917.