WALTON, Richard D. Jr

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Clinton, Ontario
Original Unit
4th Canadian Mounted Rifles
Regimental Number
401511
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
19 years 8 months
Cemetery
Vimy Memorial - Pas de Calais - France
Cenotaph
Clinton Cenotaph
Clinton Legion Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         3rd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             8th Infantry Brigade
                                             4th Canadian Mounted Rifles  -  Toronto
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   401511
DATE OF BIRTH:            December 22, 1896
                                             London - England
DATE OF DEATH:           September 15, 1916             19 years     8 months
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy
                                             Pas de Calais - France
PARENTS:                         Mr. R. & Louisa Walton – Clinton - Ontario
Occupation:                        Clothing Manufacturing      Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         August 18, 1915 - Clinton
Enlistment Age:                 18 years

Private Walton departed Canada on the SS Lapland on March 17, 1916 and arrived in England on March 25, 1916. He then transferred on June 6th to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles and joined the unit in the field on June 9th.
This was the beginning of the fight for Courcelette.
The 4th CMR were to attack in two waves beginning at 6:30 pm in the evening with “C” Company right and “B” Company left. “B” Company on their way to jump-off position endured a heavy barrage and “C” Company failed to get to the jump-off position as the Toms Trench had been blown in by enemy artillery which had been heavy during the day. 
The attack was originally to advance in two waves about 5 minutes apart and as they advanced they were to bomb down the enemy trenches and the second wave was to pass through the first and go on to the second objective.
“B” did advance but as they did so they swung their right flank very close to the rolling barrage and suffered casualties at this point. When the barrage did lift they rushed the enemy positions but encountered enemy wire and enemy enfilade fire from Mouquet Farm in the form of rifle fire and machine-gun fire.
“C” Company decided to advance overland after find Toms Trench destroyed but as they did so but enemy shell fire and machine-gun fire destroyed the majority of two platoons. They had to stop and re-organize and get reiforcements.
It was during this period where Private Walton lost his life in action in the field while performing his military duties.