Murray, Major Walter David

Service Highlights

  • Born December 25, 1932 on the family farm in Whitton Township, Quebec.
  • Son of Murdo Ewan Murray and Edythe Euphemia Murray (née MacDonald).
  • Served in the Canadian Forces for 31 years.
  • Served on United Nations peacekeeping duties in the Congo, Egypt, and Cyprus, as well as in Canada and the United States.
  • In 1963, served in the Congo with the 57 Canadian Signals Unit.
  • Served on directing staff for the Militia Officers Staff Course in 1975.
  • Later served as Deputy Commanding Officer of the 8th Canadian Hussars Regimental Headquarters and held the rank of Major at that time.
  • Retired from the Canadian Forces as a Lieutenant-Colonel.
  • Appointed an Officer of the Order of Military Merit. Awarded December 12, 1977 and invested May 31, 1978.
  • Holder of the Canadian Forces Decoration with two clasps.
  • Life Member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
  • Passed away May 3, 2013 and was interred in St. Marys Cemetery.
  • Commemorated through the St. Marys Legion Veterans Banner Program.

A Life and Service Remembered

Walter David Murray was born on Christmas Day in 1932 on the family farm in Whitton Township, Quebec. He grew up in a large family with deep Scottish roots tracing back to the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, and went on to build a remarkable military career defined by steady leadership and long service.

Over thirty one years in the Canadian Forces, Murray served both in Canada and abroad, including United Nations peacekeeping duties in the Congo, Egypt, and Cyprus. His career also included service on directing staff for the Militia Officers Staff Course and later senior regimental leadership with the 8th Canadian Hussars. He retired as a lieutenant-colonel, reflecting a lifetime of service that stretched from operational deployments to leadership and training roles.

Murray’s military service was matched by a strong connection to community and remembrance. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Military Merit and held the Canadian Forces Decoration with two clasps. In retirement he remained active, wrote on military topics for a local publication, and continued to support veterans’ and community organizations. At this time, his service records are not publicly available, so the exact details of his wartime movements have not yet been confirmed.

Walter Murray passed away on May 3, 2013. He is remembered as a decorated officer, a peacekeeper, and a man whose life reflected both duty and service far beyond his years in uniform.

Major Battles and Operations

  • United Nations service in the Congo with 57 Canadian Signals Unit
  • United Nations peacekeeping service in Egypt
  • United Nations peacekeeping service in Cyprus
  • Senior regimental service with the 8th Canadian Hussars

Learn More

Governor General of Canada, Order of Military Merit
https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/150-1250

Legacy obituary
https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/walter-murray-obituary?id=41499570

Artefacts Canada, 8th Hussars Regimental Museum
https://app.pch.gc.ca/application/artefacts_hum/detailler_detail.app?d=AEFK8CH.2013.0154.0073&w=&t=1&i=false&n=0&p=a&o=&f=&k=&pID=7&r=10&s=1&in=8th+Hussars+Regimental+Museum&colId=&v=none&l=l&lang=en

Walter Murray PDF biography
https://search.canbarchives.ca/downloads/walter-murray.pd