item details
Overview
A matching negative
This mounted portrait is of Sergeant John McVean Walker who briefly served in the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps. The print is presented in oval format, mounted onto brown card stamped with the logo of the Berry & Co. studio, 147 Cuba Street, Wellington. The photograph has been printed from a glass plate negative, which Te Papa also holds: B.046258. The latter was one of over 3000 glass plate negatives which were discovered in the Berry & Co building in the 1980s. The mounted photograph was gifted to Te Papa following a call-out to members of the public between 2011 and 2014 to help identify a number of First World War soldier portraits by Berry & Co. This project was part of Te Papa's contribution to the First World War centennary programme.
John McVean Walker
John Walker was an engine-driver, born in Dunedin in 1881. He was living with his family at 440 Adelaide Road in Newtown, Wellington when he enlisted at Trentham Camp on 13 February 1919. His service number is 431.
His file records that he medically graded 'C2', 'fit for Home Service' and that he was promoted Sergeant the same day. However his service with the Corps was to be brief as on 31 July he was discharged at his own request 'owing to not being able to secure suitable accommodation for his family'. John Walker died at Wellington on 24 January 1964.
New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps
The New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps was founded on 1 February 1917. Its function was to support the fighting troops by managing the Army's stores of ammunition, uniforms and equipment. Members of the Corps based in New Zealand were often older men with useful trade skills such as blacksmithing, harness-making and carpentry. An 'engine-driver' would have been qualified to operate the stationary steam engines which powered machinery in the workshops at Trentham Camp.