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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Walter Gardner

In memory of:

Ordinary Seaman Walter Gardner

December 6, 1917

Military Service

Service Number:

VR/5091

Force:

Navy

Unit:

Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve

Division:

H.M.C.S. Niobe

Additional Information

Commemorated on Page 241 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada

Grave Reference:

Panel 1.

Location:

The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:

1914-1939
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.

On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Enrollment Application– RCNVR Enrollment Application (page 1) for Walter Gardner.

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    Enrollment Application
    Enrollment Application – RCNVR Enrollment Application (page 1) for Walter Gardner.
  • Enrollment Application– RCNVR Enrollment Application (page 2) for Walter Gardner.

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    Enrollment Application
    Enrollment Application – RCNVR Enrollment Application (page 2) for Walter Gardner.
  • Enrollment Application– RCNVR Enrollment Application (page 3) for Walter Gardner.

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    Enrollment Application
    Enrollment Application – RCNVR Enrollment Application (page 3) for Walter Gardner.
  • Enrollment Application– Oath of Allegiance for Walter Gardner.

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    Enrollment Application
    Enrollment Application – Oath of Allegiance for Walter Gardner.
  • Circumstances of Death Registers– Casualty Form for Walter Gardner.

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    Circumstances of Death Registers
    Circumstances of Death Registers – Casualty Form for Walter Gardner.
  • Letter– Death Notification for Walter Gardner.

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    Letter
    Letter – Death Notification for Walter Gardner.
  • Letter– Certification of Death for Walter Gardner.

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    Letter
    Letter – Certification of Death for Walter Gardner.
  • Letter– Letter accompanying Walter Gardner's World War I British War Medal (posthumously awarded).

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    Letter
    Letter – Letter accompanying Walter Gardner's World War I British War Medal (posthumously awarded).
  • British War Medal– The World War I British War Medal (as posthumously awarded to Walter Gardner).

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    British War Medal
    British War Medal – The World War I British War Medal (as posthumously awarded to Walter Gardner).
  • Letter– The receipt for Walter Gardner's World War I British War Medal.

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    Letter
    Letter – The receipt for Walter Gardner's World War I British War Medal.
  • Letter– Letter accompanying Walter Gardner's memorial plaque and scroll.

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    Letter
    Letter – Letter accompanying Walter Gardner's memorial plaque and scroll.
  • Excerpt– An extract from The London Gazette that describes the events surrounding Walter Gardner's death and the award of The Albert Medal for Lifesaving at Sea to two of his shipmates.

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    Excerpt
    Excerpt – An extract from The London Gazette that describes the events surrounding Walter Gardner's death and the award of The Albert Medal for Lifesaving at Sea to two of his shipmates.
  • Cruiser– The Royal Canadian Navy's Diadem-class protected cruiser HMCS Niobe, to which Walter Gardner belonged when he was killed in the Halifax Explosion on 6 December 1917.

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    Cruiser
    Cruiser – The Royal Canadian Navy's Diadem-class protected cruiser HMCS Niobe, to which Walter Gardner belonged when he was killed in the Halifax Explosion on 6 December 1917.
  • Halifax Harbour– A view of Halifax Harbour shortly after the Halifax Explosion. Walter Gardner's ship HMCS Niobe can be seen on the right making smoke.

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    Halifax Harbour
    Halifax Harbour – A view of Halifax Harbour shortly after the Halifax Explosion. Walter Gardner's ship HMCS Niobe can be seen on the right making smoke.
  • Memorial– The panel on the Halifax Memorial at Point Pleasant in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with Walter Gardner's name inscribed. Image taken November 2017 by Tom Tulloch.

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    Memorial
    Memorial – The panel on the Halifax Memorial at Point Pleasant in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with Walter Gardner's name inscribed. Image taken November 2017 by Tom Tulloch.
  • Memorial– The memorial at St. Anne's Church in Sale, Cheshire, United Kingdom whereon Walter Gardner's name is inscribed.

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    Memorial
    Memorial – The memorial at St. Anne's Church in Sale, Cheshire, United Kingdom whereon Walter Gardner's name is inscribed.
  • Inscription– A detailed view of the memorial at St. Anne's Church in Sale, Cheshire, United Kingdom showing Walter Gardner's name inscribed at bottom right.

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    Inscription
    Inscription – A detailed view of the memorial at St. Anne's Church in Sale, Cheshire, United Kingdom showing Walter Gardner's name inscribed at bottom right.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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