Walter Totten was born on January 24, 1920, the son of Isaac Totten and Charlottie Totten, of 499 George Street, Sarnia. Walter’s father, Isaac, was employed in the Process Department at Plant No. 2, with the Sarnia Imperial Refinery. Walter’s three brothers were Clarence, Clifford and Edward. At the time of Walter’s death, all three brothers were involved in the war: Clarence was a Private with the Canadian Army in British Columbia; Clifford was a seaman/gunner with the Canadian Navy; and Edward was a gunner with the Canadian Army who was in a hospital in London, Ontario recovering from frostbite that he had received while on duty in the Arctic. Prior to his enlisting, Walter was employed at Sarnia Imperial Refinery.

Single at the time, Walter enlisted in the Canadian Army on June 4, 1941, becoming a member of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.) R.C.I.C.. Walter would serve overseas for over three years prior to his death. Walter would arrive in France two days after the D-Day landings in June of 1944. Walter was wounded later and had a brief sojourn in an English hospital for slight wounds sustained.

Walter Totten had only recently rejoined his unit, when on October 18,1944, he was wounded in action again, in Antwerp, Belgium, during the Battle of the Scheldt. Private Walter Totten would lose his life four days later, on October 22, 1944, after succumbing to his injuries. Five days after their son’s death, on October 27, 1944, parents Isaac and Charlottie Totten in Sarnia would receive information from Ottawa informing them that their son, Pte. Walter Frederick Totten, was injured in action in France on October 18. The message informed them that their son Walter had suffered a compound fracture of the tibia when wounded in action on October 18, 1944. One week later, parents Isaac and Charlotte Totten would receive a telegram from the director of records at Ottawa informing them that their son, Private Walter Frederick Totten, had succumbed to his injuries on October 22. Walter Totten would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, died of injuries, in the field (Belgium).

In early February of 1945, parents Isaac and Charlottie Totten in Sarnia would receive a letter from Major R.G. Armstrong, the commanding officer of their son Walter’s unit, D company, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. The letter read:

On behalf of your son’s friends in this company I write you this letter. We hope that you will not grieve too much for him but rather be proud that you have had such a man as your son. To say that we are proud of him is an understatement for he was an inspiration to the rest of us. His gallantry and devotion to duty did not go unnoticed. We assure you that he will not be forgotten by those who fought beside him for so long, and it remains to us who are left to carry on his splendid work. Again may I express my regrets.

R.G. Armstrong, Major

Isaac and Charlottie Totten would also receive a letter from Hon. Capt. (Rev.) Gordon Walker who officiated at their son Walter’s funeral in the military cemetery in Eecloo, Belgium. Twenty-four year old Walter Totten is buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium, Grave V.A.12. On Walter Totten’s headstone are inscribed the words, God’s Kingdom the hope of the world.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, O, 2C, 2D