THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

WALTER Charles Lockhart

23229, Lieutenant Colonel, 6 Field Regiment, New Zealand Artillery, WW2

CITATION

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 23 November 1943, p5173

On the night of 19th/20th April 1943, for the operation involving the capture of Tokrouna, Lieutenant Colonel CL Walter was required to deploy his regiment under cover of darkness into open positions to provide the necessary covering fire.  By very careful planning involving a large dumping programme the previous night, Lieutenant Colonel Walter got his regiment into action by the required time and completed the fire programme.  At daylight the following morning with great skill he advanced his regiment under heavy fire and succeeded in deploying it in a position to give covering fire to the leading Brigade.  His action in getting forward as early as possible enabled artillery support to be given to the leading Brigade very soon after it was established on the objective.  Throughout a long period of regiment service, Lieutenant Colonel Walter was outstanding as a most capable regimental leader executing his operational duties with extreme care and exactitude.  In addition he proved himself a capable leader in the matters of training and administration and his example to all around him during operations was an inspiration to them

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Service Order

1939-45 Star

Africa Star

      8th Army

Italy Star

Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-45

New Zealand War Service Medal

Silver Jubilee Medal 1935

Efficiency Decoration

New Zealand Territorial Service Medal

NOTES

Born 10 December 1902, Christchurch, New Zealand

Died 18 March 1977, Hamilton, New Zealand