Walter Harold Draper

(1889.12.31 - 1939.11.16)
SLS, ALS, DLS
Commission #073
(1922.03.30)

Walter was born to Tronson and Mary Draper on December 31, 1889. It appears that Walter was the youngest of seven children. His dad died in 1899 and sometime after 1901 most of the family moved to Port Huron, Michigan where Walter attended and graduated from high school. He did well in high school, always obtaining the honour roll and in 1903 was elected student president. After graduating, Walter, his mother and his sister Jane moved west to Edmonton.

“Walter was the only one of the five original engineering grads to hail from Edmonton South, today’s Old Strathcona. Back then, Edmonton and Strathcona were rival cities, and being identified as an Edmonton South student set you apart. In 1912, Edmonton and Strathcona amalgamated to form today’s City of Edmonton, but at the time Walter enrolled in Engineering, the rivalry between Edmonton North and Edmonton South was palpable, and each was a distinct group.

When it came to grades, Walter was the middle of the pack except for “materials of construction” and “graphical statics” where he excelled. Walter’s class standings are recorded in early U of A calendars and leave this indelible footprint. Walter graduated in May 1913 and received his certificate in land surveying right after his buddy Joe Doze.”

On March 15, 1915 Walter obtained his DLS Commission. On the 1916 census he is shown living with his mother and sister and is listed as a Civil Engineer/Township Surveying. “For a number of years he was an engineer for the Canadian government. His experience in the Peace River country and the far Canadian northwest hardened and well fitted him for a commission with the Canadian railway troops.”

“Shortly thereafter, Walter headed to the battlefields of Europe with D Company, Second Battalion Canadian Railway Troop, which was part of the British Expeditionary Force. He immediately went into training and wrote to the Comforts Club to say he had arrived safely in Europe. There is no further correspondence home from Walter except for a thank-you letter to the Comforts Club for a care package. In that letter, Walter tells of the shell shock experienced by a U of A engineering classmate C.W. Ritson (BSc 1914).

By 1917 Walter received his commission and attained the rank of lieutenant. He took a leave of absence in August and travelled to Ireland to marry his Canadian sweetheart, Lenore Patterson, daughter of Reverend William Patterson of Cook’s Church, Toronto. The news was received with great joy back on campus—a tender relief from the endless news of death and dreadful wounds. The young women in charge of writing the Comforts Club newsletter, under the direction of engineering professor Muir Edwards, ran a front-page picture of the dashing Walter “just to show you what a fine looking chap that girl got!”

“Yesterday was a big day on our work. Each of the companies in our battalion was out for a record in track laying. Well, “A” company, using 135 men, laid 12, 200 feet of steel in six working hours. I guess that record will take something to beat as the previous record for this class of light railway work in France was 9,500 feet, established by the 7th Canadian Railway Troops. Our fellows certainly opened the eyes of two Imperial officers who watched the stunt yesterday.

I’ll admit that we had ideal conditions for the run, such as perfect weather and excellent road-bed along the bank of a canal, but most important of all, every man in the company was full of pep and didn’t intend to let any of the other companies beat us.

Do you know that until this morning we hadn’t been troubled with a Hun shell since we left the Ypres sallent last November, but have heard plenty of bombs. This being the 17th of Ireland, certain wild Ulstermen were going over the top to celebrate. Evidently, the Boche is peeved about this and has opened up with his long range stuff on a town about a mile in front of us and our heavies are returning the compliment.

Last night I had a short note from Percy Yarwood who, you will remember, came over with me. He is now acting captain and tells me he is terribly busy.

This is a most beautiful day, bright and warm, and the past week has been all just the same. It would be impossible to find a nicer spot for a camp than this one. My tent door faces the canal and the bank is only 20 feet away. The canal looks inviting enough for a swim, but the water is a bit too cold yet. Lieutenant Smith took a plunge in it this morning but only stayed in about 15 seconds. Some of the boys have got a boat and are enjoying themselves this afternoon. I’d like to have a motor boat here for the summer and it surely would be convenient for the work.” Letter from Walter to his brother Thomas.

Walter was discharged in 1919.He probably needed a rest after the war as records show that, along with wife Lenore, they traveled to Port Huron to visit Walter’s brothers and they made a trip in early 1921 to Peru to visit friends at the International Petroleum Company in Talara Negritos. In 1922 records show that Walter was in Port Huron visiting family.

Between the trips to Port Huron and Peru and up until 1928 Walter’s whereabouts are a little fuzzy. There is a suggestion that Walter moved to the states which is possible as he had family in the Port Huron area. There is also a suggestion of poor health. We know that he was employed by the Canadian National Railway Company (Canadian Northern Town Properties Co. Ltd.) for surveys in Saskatchewan and Alberta in the early 1920’s, possibly up to about 1924 and maybe later as his wife made a trip to Ireland with their son and without Walter.

In 1928 Walter was an estimator with the Department of Works in Toronto and in 1930 he is listed as a civil engineer. We also note that on the years (1928-1932) that Walter is not listed, Lenore is employed in the insurance business and when he is listed, she is not. (This is maybe due to the suggestion of poor health)

From 1932 to 1937 Walter was a draftsman with the Ontario Department of Northern Development. From 1938 until his death he is shown as a civil engineer and is at the Christie St. Hospital. Walter passed away November 16, 1939.

Walter and his wife Lenore had one child, a son, Air Commodore (B-Gen) J.W.P.”Bill” Draper DFC (famous WW2 RCAF Pilot).

Prepared by M. L. J. Waschuk, SLS, P. Surv., 2018

Sources: Library and Archives Canada; University of Toronto publications; NRCan; Al Jensen-Controller of Surveys; U of A Engineer Magazine, 100 Years Later. Our First Five Engineers, Fall 2013; ALSA; SLSA; Newspaperarchives; Comfort Club Letters U of A Library; Edmonton & Toronto City Directories; ISC; Ancestry.com