Thread: On the anniversary of the Battle of #Kapyong, let's meet the Canadian soldiers who died in the defence of Hill 677. 1/?

First, Private Robert Herbert George Tolver, born Fort Qu'Appelle, SK on 18 January 1925, he left school in 1940 with a Grade 6 education to work as a farm labourer. He enlisted in 1943 and was overseas in September 1944, returning to Canada November 1945, discharged April 1946.

He worked in construction after the war. Tolver re-enlisted for Korea service on 12 Aug 1950. His personnel record notes that he didn't have a compelling reason to join, he liked army life and had no home life to speak of.

The enlisting officer noted that Tolver "is a short, chunky young man, who has been used to hard work all his life. His re-entry to military life should present no difficulty." He returned to service without issue, and was killed by a bullet that hit his chest at Kapyong.

He and his father were not close. But after his death and burial in Busan, Herbert Tolver wrote to the army. None of his son's personal effects were recovered, including his SWW medal set. Tolver Sr. asked for duplicates to be sent to him, to as a way to remember his son.

Next: Private Maurice Sherman Carr - born 1922 in Gerry NB, his mother died when he was 7, and he was brought up by his aunt and uncle. He enlisted in 1940 with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, and went overseas with the Algonquin Regiment in August 1944.

He fought through Normandy and into Northwest Europe, and was hit by a bullet in both legs while going over a fence at Bergen-op-Zoom on 23 Oct 44, through and through injuries in both thighs, the bullet stopping in his left hand.

He returned to his unit in February 1945, but did not have the same confidence, and broke down during the shelling his unit endured at Hochwald Forest in April 1945. He received treatment for battle exhaustion and chronic anxiety that lasted until June 1945.

He returned to Canada but remained interested in military service after the war, joining the @USNavy six months after his discharge from the army, serving on a destroyer until June 1949. On 17 August 1950, he re-enlisted with the Canadian Army for Korea.

The personnel officer noted "Carr is a very low-speaking, reticent veteran who returns naturally into Service life where he has been almost steadily employed since leaving school. He has no special interests.... Combatant duties will be more suitable than any trade effort."

He died at Kapyong on 25 April 1951, from multiple bullet wounds to the chest.

Next: A/Cpl Gerald Robert Evans. Evans was a recent arrival to Canada when the war in Korea broke out. He was born in Norwich, UK, completing the equivalent of a Grade 8 education there before studying architecture, architectural design and commercial art.

During the Second World War, he served in the Merchant Navy, from 1943 until 1949, reaching the rank of third mate. He left to emigrate to British Columbia, where he spent a year and a half working at BC logging camps, as a mill hand and later as a hardware store clerk.

He enlisted in Vancouver on 13 August 1950, stating he was "fed up with life on land and is seeking exciting again but does not want to go back to sea." His family was far afield, parents in Norwich, two brothers, both in Australia. The army thought he might make a good AT gunner

But he headed to RCIC instead and overseas with 2 PPCLI, with whom he served and fought until the night of 24-25 April 1951, when he was killed by multiple missile wounds to the head.

Buried at Busan, he had no personal effects reported, but his father wrote to the Canadian Army from Norwich, noting that when his son left for Canada, he had some clothes, and a watch. He asked for these to be returned. It is not clear if they were.

Next: Private Leslie Thomas Fielding, born 14 April 1928 in Truro, NS. Unlike those listed above he had no prior military service. He left school partway through Grade 7 in Truro to work. From 1943 to 1947, he worked with Stanfields, then the Truro Hotel, the CNR,

a greenhouse, St. Lawrence Starch company, and another placement. The personnel officer in Toronto, where Fielding enlisted, accurately noted that the man had worked a lot of jobs and had quite a few lay-offs. As the officer could think of no good reason not to reject Fielding,

Fielding was recommended to head to Petawawa to cover a vacancy as a light machine gunner. He bounced between Petawawa, Wainwright, and Calgary before heading to Fort Lewis to prepare to leave for Korea.

He was killed in action on the night of 24-25 April 1951, at Kapyong, from an injury to his right upper leg. His only personal effects listed was a "Korean ring", perhaps purchased while 2 PPCLI was in reserve and training.

Next: Private Curtis Archie Hayes. Hayes was born in Ottawa (like me!) on 26 June 1929, and left school in 1945, after completing Grade 8. He worked for two years as a weaver at Unity Endless Belt, and another two in the stock room of Beach Foundry.

Before the Korean War he worked as a shade cutter at George H. Hess in Toronto. He had about a year's service in the reserve force with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, which gave him a start on basic training.

He sought to enlist on 16 August 1950, and stated his reasons: "he has two brothers in the RCR and would like to have gotten in that unit for that reason." Fate and the army had different plans, however, so he went into 2 PPCLI.

He had a bumpy ride getting to Korea and while in reserve overseas, with several days lost pay and field punishment for going absent without leave. He was in the line on 25 April 1951, at Kapyong, when he was killed by a bullet or piece of shrapnel that struck his head.

Okay, taking a little break. More to come. #CanadaRemembers

Resuming: Private Joseph Marcel Leo Lessard. Born in Temiscaming QC, he grew up in Mattawa, where he attended school, completing Grade 7 in 1944. He was of slight built, 5'3" and 127 pounds, but hardened by hard work in lumber mills and camps.

He was driving a taxi in Mattawa when he chose to enlist on 11 August 1950. "States that since all his brothers and his father have been in the army he considers it his duty to serve also." He was the youngest, with four brothers and three sisters.

He still lived with his father and mother, helping out at home since his mother was sick. The recruiting officer thought his driving and household experience would make him a good batman driver, and assigned him to 2 RCR.

The assignment didn't take, and he was posted in September 1950 to the PPCLI. He did not sail with 2 PPCLI but went over in March 1951 as a reinforcement, perhaps to cover the battalion's losses at Hill 444 or 532 earlier that winter.

In Fort Lewis he may have gotten tattooed. On his right forearm, hands shaking - "U.S.A-Canada." on his left, two hearts, "Mom & Dad." At Kapyong, he was killed by a bullet to the abdomen.

When he died, Lessard had several items in his pockets. Two religious icons. Two rings, one with an illegible English inscription. A key. And a letter from his mother and father.

Next: Private Bruce Merlin MacDonald. Born in Saint John, NB on 29 September 1930, he finished Grade 9 education in June 1946, working after school hours on a farm during his last two year.

After leaving school he left home, heading to Peterborough, ON to work as a clerk in a grocery store in 1947-1948. He briefly enlisted with an anti-aircraft regiment in 1948-1949 but was discharged for failing to attend parades. He worked as a salesman before Korea.

When he enlisted on 17 Aug 1950, he told the personnel officer that his older brother had served three years in the US Navy and his sister served in the CWAC in the Second World War. His motivation for joining was the Korea emergency, and he hoped to become an NCO.

Like Lessard, MacDonald went overseas as a reinforcement to 2 PPCLI in March 1951. Just over a month later, he was at Kapyong, where he was killed by multiple head wounds. He was buried at the Busan cemetery on 16 May 1951.

Next: Private Walter John Marshall, born in Coe Hill, ON, 21 August 1928, he grew up in Lindsay, ON. He enlisted in Toronto just before his 22nd birthday, on 17 August 1950. He had no prior military service.

Posted to the PPCLI, he was sent to Korea as a reinforcement in February 1951, and joined his unit in the field on 7 March 1951. He was killed by a head wound at Kapyong the following month. Unfortunately his personnel record was a bit thin on detail of his home life.

Next: Private Robert Leroy Walker, born in Ingersol, ON on 9 April 1928. He completed Grade 7 at public school, leaving when he was 15 to help the family at home. From 1943 to 1945 he worked on a cousin's farm, and after the war worked as a lathe operator for four years.

When he enlisted, he was a section labourer for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He stated his goal for enlisting was to learn a trade, perhaps cooking, but the personnel officer noted he scored too low to start there.

The army was concerned about Walker, referring him for psychiatric help. While in training, they believed him to be emotional, prone to emitting heavy and deep sighs. He admitted to being concerned for his girlfriend, and noted he was inclined to worry in civilian life.

He spent a week in hospital in December 1950 for assessment and treatment, but soon after headed for Fort Lewis, and in February, Korea. It's not clear if the army's concerns, or Walker's were addressed by the time of his death at Kapyong on the night of 24-25 April.

He was killed by a bullet or shrapnel wound to the head at Kapyong. The burial report notes his tattoos - on his left arm, a sabre through a heart with the word "Bob", on his right forearm, a tattoo of a woman, marked "Barb." He left no personal effects.

Finally: Private Thomas Barry Wotton, born 8 April 1929 in Winnipeg, MB. He completed Grade 12 in a Manitoba City school in 1947 at the age of 18. The youngest in a family of six, Wotton's chief interest in life was sports.

He played rugby, and right out of high school started work as a sports reporter. At the time of his enlistment in August 1950, he had shifted to work as a sports announcer at a Winnipeg radio station.

He wanted to enlist as a paratrooper, "but when he found there were to be no paratroopers in the special force he decided on employment as a rifleman with the PPCLI." The personnel officer agreed, believing army life would "wake him up and put some life in his step."

He ran into some trouble while at Wainwright, and was written up for having some difficulty following orders, but he proceeded to Korea in February 1951, joining 2 PPCLI in the field on 7 March 1951. He was killed by a head wound at Kapyong.

His personal effects included a pen and pencil set, a wallet, a picture, his ID card, and an American penny. He was buried at Busan on 3 May 1951.

And that is the summary of the 10 Canadian soldiers who were listed as having been killed at Kapyong. A short summary of lives lost too young, in the service of Canada. Thanks for following along.