Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram December 1917. Submitted for the Project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram August 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of John T. Walker – John Todd "Jack" Walker was born on July 10, 1899 in Glasgow. His family soon moved to Liverpool and in 1912 to Toronto. On February 3, 1916 Jack enlisted in the CEF. He was 16 years old claiming to be 18. He was a member of the 134th Overseas Battalion of the 48th Highlanders. He sailed to England in August 1916 aboard the S.S. Scotian. He received further training at Witley camp in Sussex. Jack went to the Western Front in February 1918 as a member of the 15th Battalion, one of the four Highland Regiments comprising the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division of the CEF. On August 8, 1918 the Allied forces began an offensive referred to as the Battle of Amiens. The CEF occupied the centre of the BEF sector of the front running from Hourdres to Villers-Bretonneux. The 3rd Brigade's Royal Highland Battalion formed the vanguard of the attack. The 48th Highlanders were the support battalion, some 500 yards behind. The CEF's first objective was Hangard Wood, which contained many German strong positions and machine gun nests. John Todd Walker was killed in the opening minutes of the battle on that day. He was barely 19 years old. The CEF moved the front eight miles on this day and four years of trench warfare gave way to mobile warfare and 100 days later Armistice was signed. Jack's older brother Walter Walker, a gunner with the 51st Battery of the 13th Brigade of the CFA, operated a 4.5 inch Howitzer and was in close proximity on that foggy morning. Walter survived the remainder of the war and in August 1921 he named his first born son in his brother's honour.

Photo of John T. Walker – Jack, as his family remembers him.

Walker Family Photo – John Todd Walker married Hannah Saqui in Glascow in 1886. Soon after their fourth child was born, in 1902, they moved to the Liverpool area. John was a commercial clerk and the family resided in the Merseryside resort town of Seacombe. In 1912 the Walkers moved to Toronto, where John found employment with the Canadian Express Co. Walker, the oldest child was 17, his brother John Todd Walker was 12. Four years later in December 1916 Walker joined the Royal Canaidan Horse Artillery and began training as a gunner in Kingston. A month later his 16 year brother John enlisted with the 48th Highlanders in Toronto. John was previously a member of the Queen's Own Rifles militia. Walter and John soon shipped out ot England and the family was never to be united again. Nearly half of the Canadian soldiers of the Great War were born in the U.K. The Walkers, as pictured in Liverpool, from left to right, back row: Mae, Walter, and John. Front row: John, Belle, and Hannah.

Press clipping – Obiturary from the August 22, 1918 Toronto Star. The Battle of Amiens began at 4:20 AM, August 8 with a tremendous artillery barrage. Walter Walker and the 5th Division Artillery were supporting his brother John's 15th Infantry Battalion (48th Highlanders), 1st Division C.E.F., near Hangard Wood. Visibility was hampered by fog and some of the opening shots fell short, killing members of the 15th Battalion. They advanced against the 117th German "Trench" Division, towards their objective near Aubercoury. The 15th Battalion encountered stiff opposition from enemy artillery and machine gun nests, both of which resulted in casualties. The 5th Division Artillery ceased firing at 6AM. That afternoon they settled into a valley near Domart, a mile from Hangard Wood. The 15th Battalion reached it's objective (Blue Line) at 10AM advancing the line 5,000 yards. Walter's Battery rested for the remainder of August 8th and the 9th. He spent this time combing the battlefield searching for word of his younger brother. He encountered the 15th Battalion's Padre and learned that John had been killed in action. The Padre wrote to John's parents with the news of his death and the close proximity of his brother Walter during the fighting. At 10am on August 10th, Walter and the 51st Battery advanced to assist the 32nd Imperial Division, B.E.F. near Parvilliers. Walter remained in battle until Armistice day and did not return home to Toronto for another year.

Memorial – Pte. John Todd Walker's heroic service was remembered on this bronze memorial designed as a tribute to the men of the Eaton company who died as a result of service in World War One. 3,327 Eaton's staff enlisted in the war. It was unveiled in Toronto on November 15th, 1923 by Mrs. Timothy Eaton and on November 26th an identical memorial was unveiled in the Winnipeg store. The shield of the female figure bears the coats of arms of the provinces of Canada.

Badge – 15th Bn cap badge. Photo by BGen G. Young 15th Battalion Memorial Project Team.. DILEAS GU BRATH

Shoulder patch – Shoulder Patch 15th Bn (48th Highlanders of Canada). Submitted by Capt V Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH

Badge – Cap Badge 134th Bn (48th Highlanders of Canada). Private Walker was originally a member of the 134th Bn before being sent to the 15th Bn as a reinforcement. Submitted by Capt V Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH

Record of Service – Record of Service Card (front side). From archives 48th Highlanders of Canada Regimental Museum. Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH

Record of Service – Record of Service Card (reverse side). From archives 48th Highlanders of Canada Regimental Museum. Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH

Grave marker – Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. Dileas Gu Brath.

Memorial – 15th Bn (48th Highlanders of Canada) memorial located in the village of Warvillers, France. This memorial commemorates all members of the unit who fought and in particular those who fell during the Battle of Amiens 8-9 August 1918. Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH