OBE

23.10.1945

NW Europe 01-04.1945

Obituary from "The Globe & The Laurel": On completion of training Lt Tom Walker served successively in the battleship HMS Valiant and the cruiser HMS Castor, each for two years. He then qualified in Small Arms before being promoted Captain in 1934 and becoming OCRM of HMS Royal Oak. He attended the Army Staff College in 1939 and was awarded the King George Prize Scholarship. In June 1940 with the acting rank of Major he became involved in the early days of combined operations and subsequently instructed at HMS Quebec (Inverary). In August 1942 as a Brevet Major (acting Lt Col) he was seconded to the Royal Australian Navy for duties with their combined operations training school and its subsequent development. He became GSO1 (Combined Ops) to 11 Australian Corps and later to the same appointment in 1 Australian Corps. He was responsible for, the training of 9 Australian Division in combined operations aria subsequently gave invaluable assistance during the preparation of the detailed plans for the Lae operation in Eastern New Guinea and it was largely through his guidance that the combined operations carried out by the Australian Forces were most thoroughly prepared and successfully completed. Returning to Corps duty in March 1944 he spent several months with Combined Operations Headquarters in the planning for D-Day. Early in 1945 he was given command of 30 Battalion RM and for his inspiring leadership, organisation and efficiency in forming and training the battalion within 3 months, he was awarded the OBE. He remained in command throughout operations in North West Europe until September 1945 when he was appointed OC NCOs School at Deal. Here, during his 18 months he shaped the NCOs of the future peacetime Corps. In 1947 he was appointed to Naval Intelligence for a year before retiring in September 1948.

CB (05.02.1942; Crete)
MID (30.05.1944; Middle East)
Greek Military Cross 1st class (11.11.1941)

GCB 1979 (KCB 1976); OBE 1960; DL.