Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram September 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of JOHN TODD WALKER – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Photo of John (Jack) Walker – John Todd "Jack" Walker, son of Walter and Catherine Walker of 113 Bingham Ave. Toronto, was born on May 10, 1921 in Toronto. Jack enlisted in the Canadian Army on June 6, 1940. He was a member of the Royal Regiment of Canada's C Company, took his training at Camp Borden, and sailed to England from Halifax on February 15, 1941. Over the next 18 months the Royals received extensive training while guarding England's south coast. In March of 1942 Jack was transferred to Battalion Headquarters to be used as a sniper. On the night of August 18, 1942 he sailed from Portsmouth as part of Operation Jubilee, the infamous Dieppe Raid. On the morning of the 19th, in a proposed pre-dawn raid, the Royal Regiment were to form the eastern inner flank of the amphibious assault at "Blue Beach" (Puys), east of the town of Dieppe. Their primary objective was to disable the German Heavy A.A. Battery at the top of the 100 foot high cliff. This was critical if the main assault at Dieppe were to succeed. Lacking the planned cover of darkness, due to a late arrival, and without the element of surprise or artillery support, the Royals were decimated as they left their landing craft, waded through the water, and scrambled up an inclined pebble beach towards the seawall. All the time within full view and range of numerous nests of German machine guns and artillery. Most were dead within minutes of disembarkment. Jack Walker was shot while in the water or on the foreshore and drowned. On that morning 524 of 554 members of the Royals were listed as casualties. Ninety four percent. Only three of the soldiers from the Royal Regiment that landed returned to England that day. No Canadian regiment in all of WWII suffered heavier losses in a single battle.

Photo of John and his Father. – In February 1940, John Todd "Jack' Walker, of the Royal Regiment of Canada, aged 18, and his father Walter Walker, aged 45, posed for a photo in front of the family home on Bingham Avenue in Toronto. Walter served 22 months on the Western Front, with the 51st Battery, 13th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, during the Great War. Walter lost his brother during the Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918. He subsequently named his first born son in his brother's honour. Jack left Union Station in Toronto with his battalion, travelling by train to Halifax and then by ship to England. Family members recall Walter's great sadness at their parting. Walter died at home,on May 11, 1941 at the age of 46 of heart failure. Jack died during the Dieppe Raid of August 19, 1942.

Photo of Jack in the Highlands of Scotland – Jack Walker pictured in the Highlands of Scotland during a leave. Jack's parents were both born in Scotland before emigrating to Toronto. His regiment was stationed in England for 16 months before embarking to France. During this period Jack had 5 week long leaves. He took this opportunity to become acquainted with his maternal grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. They liked to call him Johnnie. He became particularly fond of his grandparents Duncan and Margaret MacGregor who lived in Dundonnell, Ross-shire near the head of Little Loch Broom. Between leaves Jack wrote letters to his Highland relatives. He also wrote to friends stationed at Halifax and regularly to his mother, Catherine Walker. Some of these letters and this picture have survived and been retrieved.

Photo of Jack Walker – In June of 1940, as the Nazi Army was crushing France, Jack Walker and many of his boyhood friends made a trip together to Toronto's CNE grounds and enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Canada. Jack gave his age as 19, in fact, he was only 17. This was a frightening time for Jack's parents, Walter and Catherine Walker who, having met and married during WW1, knew only too well of the consequences of war. Before he left for overseas, Jack's family held a party for all the enlisted boys a their home in the Toronto Beach district. All family, friends, and neighbours turned out for the big send off. At the end of the party, Jack and his enlisted buddies were lined up against the dining room wall and everone kissed them goodbye. Shortly after Jack arrived in England, his father died suddenly but Jack was not permitted to return home. During the next year and a half, Jack wrote many letters home to his worried Mother. News of the Dieppe Raid reached the Toronto newspapers on August 20, 1942. The following week, a hush fell over the neighbourhood as telegrams from the War Office began to arrive at homes up and down the streets. This neighbourhood would never be the same. Jack's mother sadly mourned his death until her own death in 1982

Newspaper Clipping – Jack Walker's mother, Catherine Walker, saved this newpaper clipping, commemorating the soldiers of the Canadian Second Division who guarded the south coast of England for a year and a half before embarking on the Dieppe Raid of 1942. When Catherine died in 1982 her daughter, Margaret found this clipping in her mother's wallet.

Attestation paper – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Red Cross Notice – Jack was killed in action in August 1942. His death was not made official until the spring of 1943. The Canadian Red Cross forwarded Jack's personal possessions to his mother in Toronto. They also sent this notice to his grandparents in Scotland.

Document – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Document – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter (1) – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter (2) – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Stone of Remembrance – Stone of Remembrance - Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Entrace – Entrance - Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery – The Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, located just outside Dieppe, France. (J. Stephens)

Cemetery – Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Grave Marker – The grave marker at the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery located approximately 5 km. from the beach of Dieppe, France. May he rest in peace. (K. Falconer & J. Stephens)

Grave Marker – Grave marker - Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens