This series consists of records relating to Roy Fairbairn Walker's service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, and in particular, his service in the First Tramways Company.
It is also worth pointing out that additional records are to be found elsewhere, in Walker's Canadian Expeditionary Force service file. His file includes his war-time pay cards, service papers, and health papers. The file indicates that on Dec. 27, 1915, he joined up and began his service in the 146th Battalion (Reserve), then was transferred to the 95th Battalion (Reserve), the 5th Battlalion (Reserve), and then the 20th Field Battalion. While in England, he was stationed in Bramshott and the W. Sandling, Kent, and then sailed with his unit to France on September 25, 1916. In 1917, he was transferred as an engineer to the Canadian Corps Tramway Company, followed by the Canadian Light Railway Operating Company, and then to the First Tramways Company.
The Canadian Light Rail Operating Company formed part of the Canadian Railway Troops, all of which played an effective backup force on the Western Front in France, particularly at several major battles such as at the Somme, Arras, and Ypres. The Canadian Engineers tramway companies were not part of the Canadian Railway Troops, but were, throughout their history, part of the Canadian Corps, and were authorized, formed, worked and were demobilized in France and never existed anywhere else than in the forward area. Again, these companies provided support to regular troops. (For more info about Canadian Railway Troops annd Canadian Engineers Tramways Companies, please see the following documents: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.014-e.pdf, http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/Documents/tramway%20companies%20canadian%20engineers.pdf, http://www.exporail.org/can_rail/Canadian%20Rail_no437_1993.pdf, http://www3.nfb.ca/ww1/wartime-film.php?id=531250, and http://vimyridgehistory.com/wp-content/uploads/Canadian-Railway-Troops.pdf )
To view Walker's service record, please see: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=293468
