Source: “Duty Nobly Done” relates on page 223 that Private Walker assisted in repelling a German trench raid on March 13, 1917 in the Vimy Sector.
Military Medal
This single 24-year old labourer enlisted with the 124th Overseas Battalion on January 7, 1916.
Sailing from Halifax on August 7, 1916, he arrived in England on the 18th of that month, having transitted the Atlantic aboard the SS Cameronia.
On October 10, 1916, he was TOS with the 18th Battalion and arrived in the field on the next day. He was temporarily attached to the 4th Field Company in November 1916, returning to service with the 18th on November 26, 1916.
He was admitted to No. 7 Canadian General Hosptial, Etaples, France for PUO on April 17, 1917. He returned to the Battalion on June 5, 1917 and was awarded the Military Medal on May 25, 1917.
VISSEE group of craters. At 4 am red and green flares fired from German front line appeared to be the signal for the heavy bombardment which followed directed to our front and support lines. Our outposts consisting of six bombers and 3 Lewis gunners, 1 sgt. were in the act of withdrawing to front line. The raiders approached in two parties, about 30 men in all. Two bombers [Pte.] R. Walker[i] and W.H. Webster[ii] who were covering the withdrawal of outpost #16 [spread] fire on the Huns and Pte. Walker claims three. One Hun managed [to] creep up to one of the Bombers and said in English “Come with me.” Pte. Webster managed to break away and continued to throw bombs with good effect. One Hun was afterwards found by LIEUT. TUCK who secured identification. Our casualties were 3 killed[iii] and 14 wounded by enemy shell fire.
He was at the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion from June 17 and 18 1917 and returned to the 18th.
He was granted 14-day’s leave on December 13, 1917, and appointed a Lance-Corporal on the 17th.
Returning to the Battalion he served until he was wounded on August 8, 1918, and died of wounds the next day at No. 47 Casualty Clearing Station.
War Diary Entry (March 13, 1917) of Action for Military Medal:
Position as yesterday. 4:15 am Enemy attempted a raid on our outposts on the right flank of frontage due north of VISSEE group of craters. At 4 am red and green flares fired from German front line appeared to be the signal for the heavy bombardment which followed directed to our front and support lines. Our outposts consisting of six bombers and 3 Lewis gunners, 1 sgt. were in the act of withdrawing to front line. The raiders approached in two parties, about 30 men in all. Two bombers [Pte.] R. Walker[i] and W.H. Webster[ii] who were covering the withdrawal of outpost #16 [spread] fire on the Huns and Pte. Walker claims three. One Hun managed [to] creep up to one of the Bombers and said in English “Come with me.” Pte. Webster managed to break away and continued to throw bombs with good effect. One Hun was afterwards found by LIEUT. TUCK who secured identification. Our casualties were 3 killed[iii] and 14 wounded by enemy shell fire.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 