16 Union St.
Walter Louth
Walter was the son of William Louth and Mary Smith, born March 8,1894 on the 5th Line east of Norval. William had immigrated from England in 1873 at the age of 10 and his mother was an Ontario girl. The 1911 Canadian Census identifies the parents living in Norval with their four sons and two three daughters, William working 60 hours per week at odd jobs to support his family.
Walter enlisted January 25, 1916 in the 164th Battalion at 21 years 11months of age…perhaps to help his father support the family. He arrived in England aboard the SS Carpathia (rescue ship of the Titanic) on May 22, 1917. He was “given permission to wear one Good Conduct Badge” March 5, 1918. Walter saw service for three and half years with the Second Machine Gun Company, serving in England and France and also Germany for a short time with the army of occupation. Walter was discharged May 25, 1919…little did he know as he returned home that twenty-five years later his own son would be lost to the horrors of war.
Walter married Sarah Shearer of Georgetown, Ont. on June 4, 1921 and the couple had four children: William James (Killed in WW2), Edna, Walter and Jack.
The 1931 Canadian Census shows Walter, his wife and his four children living in Norval with his parents and two of his brothers in a house that his parents owned. At that time Walter was a “colour foreman in a paper mill” and supporting the entire family with his earnings of $1320 per year. His father was not working.
The 1957 Canadian Voters Registration List places Walter living at 16 Union St.
Walter died June 19, 1984 and is buried alongside his wife Sarah at Hillcrest Cemetery in Norval.
Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on. Information taken from Canadiangreatwarproject.com, Ancestry.ca and Newspapers.com
