Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthNovember 21, 1898
Place of BirthDominion City, Manitoba
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinSam Walker (Father) Keewatin, Ontario
Trade / CallingClerk
ReligionMethodist
Service Details
Regimental Number150679
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion79th Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at Enlistment604-12th St., Brandon, Manitoba
Date of EnlistmentDecember 30, 1915
Age at Enlistment17
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathAbout January 1937
Age at Death38

Walker, David Merrill

Born in Dominion City, Manitoba on November 21, 1898, David Merrill Walker was the 2nd born  child of Samuel and Albertia (Philips) Walker. By 1911 the family was living on Ottawa Street in the town of Keewatin, Ontario.   His siblings were an older brother William, and younger brothers Clarence and  Russell, then sister  Dorothy.   His father, Sam was  born in the United States while his mother was of Welsh heritage born in Manitoba.  The family followed the Methodist faith and Sam was working at the flour mill in Keewatin. David’s mother died in March of 1915.

David was only 16 when he first signed his attestation papers with the 79th Battalion on 30 December 1915 in Brandon, Manitoba.  He claimed to be 17 at the time.  The 79th Battalion and David Walker sailed from Halifax on 24 April 1916 aboard the SS Lapland. When he arrived in England he was transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion and then the 16th overseas battalion.  David joined the 16th Battalion in France on 27 September 1916.  In October 1916 he spent 11 days in field hospitals being treated for an infected heel.

In August of 1917 it was discovered that David was a minor so he was returned to England. He was taken on strength by the Manitoba Regimental Depot and attached to the Canadian Army Medical Corps depot serving there until his return to Canada in 1919.  David received his official discharge on the 10th of July 1919 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In the fall of 1919 David left Canada moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He married there and he and his wife Frances had two daughters – June (b. 1923) and Shirley (b. 1926).  David worked as a repairman for the telephone company.

From the Veterans Death index card (L.A.C.) it appears that David Merrill Walker died about January 1937.   It is unknown where he died or is buried

By Linda Pelletier

Walker-David-99 Walker-David-Merrill-1

Veteran death card courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.


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