TROYER, Walter Case

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             12th Infantry Brigade
                                             38th Battalion - Ottawa
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654456
RESIDENCE:                    Hensall - Ontario                   
DATE OF BIRTH:            July 4, 1897
                                             Sheldon – North Dakota - USA
DATE OF DEATH:           May 22, 1917                       19 years     10 months
CEMETERY:                    Wimereux Communal Cemetery – Wimereux –
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             II     L     2A
FATHER:                           Mr. Charles E. Troyer – London - Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         Hensall – February 15, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 18 years     7 months

Private Troyer went overseas to England during the month of November 1916 with the 161st Battalion.
Private Troyer had received gunshot wounds to his right leg above the ankle, was moved to No. 14 Stationary Hospital located at Wimereux. Here he contacted septic poisoning and scarlet fever and it was a combination of these that took his life. He was wounded in the latter part of the Battle of Vimy on April 12th.
During his time in Hospital, he was visited at one point by the physician of the King, Sir Bernard Dawson, who commented on the splendid spirits that Private Troyer had under such severe circumstances.
On April 12, 1917 the 12th Infantry Brigade artillery began to actively bombard Claude Trench and as well onto enemy artillery batteries. The Brigade Trench Mortars were also active against Claude Trench and the Brigade machine-guns had their sites on the enemy infantry who were trying a break through from Claude Trench. In addition to the attempted break through the snipers of the Battalion were very active.
On the morning of April 12th, a group of the enemy was seen leaving their trenches ad advancing but the Battalion Lewis guns drove them off and inflicted casualties. Then at 4 pm the Stokes guns of the Battalion began to fire onto Claude Trench as a bombing party of the 73rd Battalion was to attack under this barrage.
In the evening at 8 pm word came down that the enemy was going to counter attack and “A & D” Companies were ordered up but the enemy advance never happened.
Between April 9 – 12th, 1917 the Battalion casualties were 58 killed, 223 wounded and 44 m4n missing.