838014 Pte. Walter James Beare was born on March 3rd, 1896, in Popular, London, England.
Immigrating to Canada Walter was working in Owen Sound as a Chair Finisher when hostilities broke. He attested to the 147th Battalion on November 29th, 1915 and was assigned to "A" Company.
Billeted locally over the remainder of the winter the 147th Battalion mobilized in Owen Sound in the spring of 1916 and left for training at Camp Niagara. As the conditions in the Camp were wanting the unit moved to the new training facility of Camp Borden in late June.
In September 1916 the unit received their orders to proceed overseas, but due to an outbreak of diphtheria they were detained in Amherst, Nova Scotia, for over a month. The unit finally sailed for Great Britain on November 14th 1916 on the S.S. Olympic.
On January 1st, 1917, the 147th Battalion ceased to exist when it became the nucleus for the 8th Reserve Battalion. On March 7th, 1917, Walter was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R., however he succumbed to severe enteritis in April and was moved to England for treatment. With a further diagnosis of bronchitis and then tuberculosis, Walter was invalided back to Canada, arriving in Halifax on 25th October 1917, and went into a convalescence home in Toronto. He was discharged as medically unfit six days later.
Pte. Walter James Beare was struck off strength from further service, due to tuberculosis, on 31st March 1918.
Biography details credit: George Auer
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