Black-and-white portrait photograph of a young man in uniform, from the frontispiece of the book, under the heading “Walter Joseph Host”.

The Coronation Boy

The story of Walter Joseph Host’s short life in World War 1

From the book

Born in Jaspers Brush, via Berry NSW, Australia in 1896, the grandson of German immigrants, Walter Joseph Host was the “golden boy” of his family. The youngest son of well-to-do farmers, Walter was selected to represent his country as a junior army cadet at the coronation of King George V in England in 1911. At age fourteen, he stood guard outside Buckingham Palace to witness all the pomp and ceremony of the British Empire at its zenith.

From the opening summary of The Coronation Boy (book page 4).

The StoryWho Walter Joseph Host was, and what the book covers. The BookBuy it as a soft copy or a hard copy. Author, ISBN and credits. A free sampleRead two chapters of the book, free.

Gallery

Highlights from the book’s pictures. See all 40

Walter aged 14 in his cadet uniform - on the eve of departure

The Junior Cadets - Victoria Barracks Walter (far right, middle row)

Australian Cadet Rifle Team (Walter Host is 5th from the left, back row)

The entire NSW Contingent photographed on a Thames barge

Lord Roberts inspects Australian cadets 1911