Walter Reginald Potts the 13th child of John Michael Potts and Alice Ada Potts (nee Turner) was born at Lansdowne on 9 May 1912.
He enlisted on 30 August 1940 into the Australian Army at Comboyne and was aged 28 years stating his wife Florance as his next of kin. He and his wife were living at Comboyne at the time of his enlistment.
Walter was presented with a wristlet watch at a farewell at the Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall on 4 January 1941 as reported in the Northern Champion.
He trained with the 1st Infantry Training Battalion at Tamworth.
He embarked overseas on 9 April 1941 and served in the middle east from 9 April 1941. He served with the 19 Australian Infantry Special Group from the 15 June 1941 and then joined the 2/4 Australian Infantry Battalion on the 30 July 1941. Walter returned to Australia on 28 March 1942.
Walter was then stationed in Darwin from 1 June 1942 to 28 May 1943.
On the 28 October 1944 he embarked from Cairns per ‘USAT Mexico’ disembarking at Aitape, New Guinea on 1 November 1944. He returned to Australia on 13 October 1945 on board the ‘Katoomba’ arriving in Townsville 20 October 1945.
Walter was discharged on 10 November 1945.
Walter was married to Florance Alma Hardes in 1934 at Taree and they had 2 children, Raymon Alwyn and Sandra Karleen.
Walter died on 24 June 1973 at Taree aged 61 and is buried in the Dawson River Cemetery.
