Sergeant Walter Leigh Rayfield VC a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy in the British Empire. His Victoria Cross displayed at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Early Life
The 1891 English census shows ten-year-old Walter going by the last name Lee, living in the Washwell House in Painswick, Gloucestershire, England – Washwell a home run by sisters Harriett and Alice Wemyss. The sisters began the emigration of children from their home to Marchmont, under the care of Annie Macpherson. Earlier in 1877, Macpherson turned the running of the home over to Miss Ellen Bilbrough. In 1877 Miss Bilbrough married Reverend Robert Wallace, following which they ran Marchmont together.
The Marchmont Home records show that a Walter Lee emigrated to Canada on 21 May 21, aged 10. Furthermore, his date of birth recorded as October 7 1881, his mother’s name not recorded, his step-father named as Thomas Mills. It states both mother and step-father living at Newton Street, Borough, London, Thomas a porter at Guy’s Hospital. One sister mentioned named Alice, born circa 1875. The 1891 census for England shows Thomas Mills, his wife Annie, living at 28 Newcomen Street in London, directly across the street from Guy’s Hospital where both Thomas and Annie worked. Alice found working as a servant in Paddington, London.
Emigration to Canada
Walter traveled to Canada under the care of the Wallace’s chaperon, Miss Annie Gertrude Laver, and taken to their Bellville receiving home. From there, placed out on local farms to work. Walter’s last known whereabouts, through the Macpherson/Wallace records, from 1895, living in Bainsville, Ontario. This where the trail ends for Walter Lee/Leigh.
The whereabouts of Walter under either last name, after this time, not found. Further, although Walter Rayfield gives his birth date as 7 October 1881 in Richmond, England, no evidence found under the name Rayfield to support this. After 1895, first sign of Walter found to date, his first marriage in King, Washington, USA. Now using the middle name Leigh and the last name Rayfield . The origins of the name Rayfield not yet discovered.
Marriage to Mariam Leona Maroney
In August of 1907, Walter married Mariam Leona Maroney in King, Washington, USA. He gives his birth place as London, England and notes his parent’s names as Annie Leigh and Thomas Guy Rayfield. The Guy in Thomas’s name could very well be a reference from the aforementioned Guy’s Hospital. A son, Walter Rayfield Jr, born in 1908, Washington, USA.
Following the death of Thomas Guy Rayfield in 1912 and Annie Leigh in 1907, Walter Rayfield/Lockett kept in contact with his step siblings and visited them on several occasions. Walter’s son, Victor Charles Rayfield, also kept in contact with the family.
Service of Sergeant Walter Leigh Rayfield
Enlistment
Walter Leigh Rayfield (AKA Lockett) 2204279 attested in Vancouver British Columbia on 10 July 1917. At this time, residing in Los Angeles and returned to Canada to enlist. Walter’s first born son, with former wife Mariam Leona Maroney (now Mrs. John Strating), Walter Rayfield Jr, listed as next of kin. Walter served with the 7th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, arriving in England January 8 1918.
7th Battalion
Organized in Valcartier Camp 2 September 1914 and composed of recruits from British Columbia. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. McHarg. Embarked Quebec City 25 September 1914 aboard VIRGINIAN, later disembarked in England 14 October 1914 with a strength of 49 officers, 1083 other ranks. Disembarked in France 10 February 1915 with the 1st Canadian Division, 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 1st Canadian Reserve Battalion. Returned to England 23 March 1919, disembarked in Canada 18 April 1919, demobilized 25 April 1919, and finally disbanded by General Order 149 of 15 September 1920. Perpetuated by The British Columbia Regiment.
Battle of Drocourt-Quéant Line (Wotan Stellung)
Victoria Cross
On September 2 1918 Walter Leigh Rayfield earned the Victoria Cross whilst fighting with Canadian units in the Second Battle of Arras. Shortly after the attack against the German Drocourt-Queant Line began, Corporal Rayfield “ahead of his company, he rushed a trench occupied by a large party of the enemy, personally bayonetting two and taking ten prisoners…..” Seven men, called the ‘Magnificent Seven” earned the Victoria Cross for their bravery that day, including Walter, Bellenden Hutcheson, Arthur George Knight, William Henry Metcalf, Cyrus Wesley Peck, John Francis Young and Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney. Nunney, serving with the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, died of his wounds on September 18 1918. His Victoria Cross was a posthumous award for his bravery.
Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney
The lives of Nunney and Walter, unbeknownst to either, paralleled. Nunney highly acclaimed and thought to be the only British Home Child awarded the VC. Even if aware of each other, highly unlikely they would have known their similar backgrounds as British Home Children. Neither one, upon enlistment, either knowingly or unwittingly, gave a full and truthful disclosure of their backgrounds.
Both men had changed their names. Nunney arrived in Canada at the age of 13 in 1905, under the name “Stephen Claude” and falsely gave his birth location as Dublin when it fact born in Hastings, England. Walter born in Lockett, came to Canada at 10 years old under the name Lee but gave Rayfield as his last name.
Following his bravery in the Battle of Arras, Walter promoted to Corporal on 27 September 1918, then in the following January, to acting Sergeant. Walter’s Victoria Cross announced on 14 December 1918, while stationed in Germany as part of the Allied Occupation. Walter later received his Victoria Cross from George V at Buckingham Palace on 8 March 1919.
Demobilization
The following month Sergeant Walter Leigh Rayfield VC returned to Vancouver and demobilized, later discharged on 25 April 1919 in Vancouver. According to the Vancouver Daily World, dated 17 May 1919, Walter visited with friends before returning to Santa Anita Rancho, California. Immigration records dated 20 May 1919 have him residing in California. However, Walter did not remain in the USA long. By the time of his 1921 marriage to Nina Hickling, of Toronto, he had already unsuccessfully ran for the Progressive Party of Canada as their “soldier candidate” in the January 1921 federal election for Toronto East.
Marriage to Nina Hickling
The marriage to Marriage to Mariam Leona Maroney did not survive and by 1921, Mariam remarried and living with her new husband and son Walter Jr. In 1921, Walter remarried in Niagara Falls, USA, to Nina Hickling. On this marriage record, Walter gives his parents names as Thomas Rayfield and Annie Rayfield. Walter and Nina’s son Victor Charles Rayfield born in Canada in 1922.
Two children born to Walter and Nina, Victor in 1922 and Isobel in 1924. During this time, Walter refused to capitalize on his notoriety as a war hero, instead working with disabled War Veterans.
Rayfield appointed Deputy Governor of the Don Jail in 1934, following which appointed Governor. Walter fulfilled this position until his death. During this time also served as Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, taking his position in 1935. With his position as Governor of the Don Jail, Walter resided in the Governor’s House, located at 558 Gerrard Street. This home, now a heritage property in Toronto, the very same home to which the young June Rayfield (nee Dunster), the War Bride of Walter’s son Victor, arrived to in 1946.
Second World War
While enlisted and serving in the Second World War, Walter’s son, Victor Charles Rayfield visited his family in England. Romance later bloomed between Victor and his step second cousin, June Molly Dunster. June the Great Granddaughter of Thomas Henry Mills. She the Granddaughter of Alice Elizabeth Mills mentioned on the Macpherson/Merry records. A marriage between Victor and June registered in 1945, Croydon, Surrey, England. June emigrated to Canada later in 1945, her destination Walter Rayfield’s home in Toronto, 558 Gerrard Street East. This marriage also did not survive. However short lived the marriage, June remained in Canada. Victor married Dora Matthews in 1948.
Emily’s House
The Governor’s House now part of Emily’s House, Toronto’s first children’s hospice, owned and operated by The Philip Aziz Centre. Emily’s House dedicated to caring for children with complex needs, while supporting their families.
Death of Sergeant Walter Leigh Rayfield VC
Sergeant Walter Leigh Rayfield VC died suddenly, Saturday night, 20 February 1949, and buried at Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Soldier’s Plot, Section 7, grave 4196). Nina an honoured guest at the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park, London on 26 June 1956. By 1963 she moved to 32 Joicey Boulevard, Eglinton, Toronto, and later to 107 Jane Street, York West by 1972.
Walter’s son Walter L Rayfield became a bookkeeper in 1940 and married Irene L Hall on 15 November 1941 in King Co, Washington. He died in Seattle. Victor Charles Rayfield had a son with Dora Matthews, Walter Leigh Rayfield, born 1949 in Hamilton, Ontario. At this time, Walter’s daughter Isobel Rayfield a secretary, living with her mother.