Keast, Walter Douglas

Private Walter (Wally) Keast was a member of the 17th's Brigade's 2/6 Battalion. His service number was VX35976. He was living at Port Fairy in Victoria when he enlisted on 5 Jul 1940.
From the AWM website: In early April, the 2/6th, with the rest of the 6th Division, deployed to Greece to resist the anticipated German invasion. For the 2/6th, the Greek campaign was essentially one long withdrawal through a series of rearguard positions, beginning on 16 April. In the last days of the campaign its companies were dispersed by higher command; some were subsequently evacuated by sea between 26 and 29 April, but approximately a quarter of the battalion was left behind and taken prisoner. Some of the evacuees were landed on Crete and, after fighting with the 17th Brigade Composite Battalion, many of these men were also captured.

Wally was born in the Melbourne suburb of Kensington on 16 Oct 1907. Post-war he worked for Victorian Railways in Melbourne and later at Camperdown, Victoria. He died in Terang, Victoria in 1990 aged 83.

AWM Nominal Roll