Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Walter Douglas Paine, 28, a mercer had many connections with Auburn. He attended Auburn North Public School and, like five other Auburn Memorial men from Auburn North, went on to do post primary courses at Auburn Public School. Paine was a member of Auburn's St Philip’s Anglican Church and of the Auburn Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows. An obituary for Paine records he 'took part in one or two dramatic pieces presented at the Auburn Town Hall by Norman Kennerdale’s Dramatic Company.'
Paine enlisted on 22 June 1916, nominating his widowed mother at 78 Station Road, Auburn, as his next-of-kin. Private Paine embarked on the Runic on 9 August 1915 and he joined the Anzac forces on Gallipoli on 6 November 1915, one month before the evacuation. Back in Egypt, the Anzac forces were reorganised and Paine was allocated to the 1st Battalion First Australian Division.
Arriving in Marseilles, France, on 28 March 1916, the troops were taken by train to the Nursery Sector in the far north of France. After several months there the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Australian Divisions were brought down to the Somme in readiness to join in the First Battle of the Somme. Paine was killed in action on 25 July 1916, during the Australian attack at Pozières. His body was never found and therefore his name is inscribed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Helen Paine received her son’s medals and she was awarded a pension of ‘￡1 p.f.’ as she was dependent on Walter. Her other son had left home and was a teacher at Rozelle Superior Public School.
Walter Paine is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- St Philip's Anglican Church Auburn First World War Honour Roll
- Auburn Boys Public School Great War Honour Roll
- Auburn Public School First World War Honour Roll
- Auburn North Public School Great War Roll of Honor
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
- 1914-1915 Star
