Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

Remembering Sergeant Walter John Taylor: A Family Hero of Vimy Ridge

I recently uncovered the story of my great-grandmother Olive Taylor’s younger brother, Walter John Taylor, quite by accident while researching a 1901 Canadian Census record. Until then, I had no idea that a member of my family had fought—and died—during one of the most defining battles of World War I: the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

​

Early Life in Brighton, Ontario

Walter John Taylor was born on December 22, 1895, in Brighton, Ontario, making him 11 years younger than my great-grandmother Olive. The 1901 Census is the only record where his name appears, as just over a decade later he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

On December 18, 1915, four days before his 20th birthday, Walter enlisted to serve his country. His attestation papers record him as unmarried and working as a labourer. They also describe him as 5'8" tall, with a pale complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair—a young man deemed fit for action. His religion was listed as Methodist, reflecting his family’s faith.

Enlistment and Deployment Overseas

Walter was assigned to the 75th Battalion, part of the Central Ontario Division of the CEF. Records show the battalion departed Toronto for Halifax on April 1, 1916, before crossing the U-boat–infested North Atlantic aboard the Empress of Britain. They landed safely in London, England, on April 9, 1916.

By August 12, 1916, the 75th Battalion had arrived in France, joining the 4th Canadian Division, 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The battalion went on to fight in some of the most brutal and decisive campaigns of the war, including:

• The Somme (1916)

• Ancre Heights (1916)

• Arras (1917 and 1918)

• Vimy Ridge (1917)

• Ypres (1917)

• Passchendaele (1917)

• Amiens (1918)

 

The Battle of Vimy Ridge: April 9–12, 1917

On April 9, 1917, the 75th Battalion took part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, one of Canada’s most significant military victories. Over the course of four days, Canadian forces successfully captured the ridge from German control, forcing a retreat and marking a turning point in the Great War.

Tragically, Sergeant Walter John Taylor was killed in action on April 9, 1917, the very first day of the battle. He was just 21 years old. His final resting place is unknown, but his name is proudly engraved on the Vimy Ridge Memorial, which honors all Canadian soldiers with no known grave.

​

Visiting Vimy Ridge: A Lasting Legacy

Years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Vimy Ridge and the Canadian National Vimy Memorial—not knowing then that my own relative had fought and fallen there. The memorial is an awe-inspiring and deeply moving place, standing peacefully over land still scarred by the war.

Even today, remnants of the conflict remain. When we visited, an unexploded shell had recently surfaced near the monument, requiring removal by a bomb disposal squad—a reminder of the immense scale of the fighting that once took place there.

The land around Vimy Ridge was gifted to Canada by France in perpetuity as a gesture of gratitude for Canada’s contribution and sacrifice during the war. Canadian flags fly proudly throughout the area, and Government of Canada signage welcomes visitors to this hallowed ground.

​

The Vimy Ridge Visitor Centre and Trenches

A short distance south of the memorial is the Vimy Ridge Visitor Education Centre, where Canadian university students serve as guides. Visitors can explore preserved trenches and underground tunnels, gaining a powerful sense of what soldiers like Walter endured. Bomb craters and warning signs for unexploded ordnance are still visible—a sobering testament to the devastation of World War I.

Nearby lies a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, the final resting place for many of Walter’s comrades.

​

Why You Should Visit Vimy Ridge

If you ever find yourself in Paris, consider taking a day trip to the Vimy Ridge Memorial. It’s only a couple of hours by car or train via Arras, and several guided tours visit the site. Walking the same ground where so many brave Canadians fought and died is both humbling and unforgettable.

Many historians regard Vimy Ridge as the birthplace of modern Canada—a moment when our young nation stepped forward on the world stage, proving its strength and independence from Great Britain.