Francis Walter Belt (30 April 1862 – 21 August 1938) was an Australian naval commander, lawyer, explorer, and big game hunter. Born inAdelaide, he attended theCollegiate School of St Peter and clerked in the offices of his father, a barrister, and was admitted barrister and solicitor in 1884. He took part in the 1894Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia, financed by his brother-in-lawWilliam A. Horn. He served two wars: first as a trooper in theSouth African War from 1900 to 1901, and later duringWorld War I, where he served first as a lieutenantRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve in England, then lieutenant-commander and finally commander in theRoyal Naval Division. He was wounded during the war and received theDistinguished Service Order from the United Kingdom as well as the RussianOrder of Saint Anna andOrder of Saint Stanislaus. He died inMontreux, Switzerland, at the age of 76.[1][2][3]
