Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | November 21, 1898 |
Place of Birth | Dominion City, Manitoba |
Country | Canada |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | Sam Walker (Father) Keewatin, Ontario |
Trade / Calling | Clerk |
Religion | Methodist |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 150679 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | 79th Battalion |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Infantry |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Address at Enlistment | 604-12th St., Brandon, Manitoba |
Date of Enlistment | December 30, 1915 |
Age at Enlistment | 17 |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | About January 1937 |
Age at Death | 38 |
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
Veteran death card courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.