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David Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 February 1911 Dundee, Scotland |
| Died | 5 March 1992(1992-03-05) (aged 81) St Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | Scottish/Canadian |
| Period | 1955 to 1984 |
| Genre | Drama |
David Harry WalkerCM MBE (9 February 1911 – 5 March 1992) was a Canadian novelist. He was born inDundee, Scotland, later moving toSt Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, where he began his career as a writer. His work has been made into films.
David Walker was born nearDundee, Scotland and received his early education inShrewsbury, later enrolling at theRoyal Military College, Sandhurst. After graduation in 1931, he was commissioned in theBlack Watch. He served with the foreign battalion in India and Sudan (1932–38) and in Canada (1938–39) as aide-de-camp to Governor-GeneralLord Tweedsmuir, the novelistJohn Buchan.
There he met Willa Magee ofMontreal, and they married on 27 July 1939. The couple had four sons together: Giles, Barclay, David, and Julian.
In September 1939, amid the threat of war, Walker returned to Britain, where he trained recruits. The next year he was posted to France with TheBlack Watch51st Highland Division. Captured by the Germans at St. Valery in June 1940, he spent nearly 5 years in prisoner of war camps, escaping three times; each time he was recaptured after getting outside the camp. While interned atColditz Castle, he began to write poetry.
Freed by American troops in 1945, he was later awarded theM.B.E. In 1946 he travelled to India, where he served for a short time as comptroller of the household for ViceroyLord Wavell (1946–47). Following retirement from the British army, Walker returned briefly to Scotland.
He emigrated toSt. Andrews, New Brunswick in 1948, intent on becoming a writer. A prolific author, Walker enjoyed a long and successful career, publishing approximately 100 short stories and 20 books. His novelsThe Pillar, about a prisoner of war camp, andDigby, a Scottish highlands story, won theGovernor General's award for fiction for 1952 and 1953, respectively. Several of his books, includingGeordie (1955), were made into motion pictures.Geordie was set in his native Scotland, whileMallabec andPirate Rock were set in his adopted home province of New Brunswick.Where the High Winds Blow, written following a dogsled adventure in the Canadian North, is considered his most popular Canadian novel. His last book,Lean, Wind, Lean, an autobiography, was published in 1984.
Two other motion pictures,Harry Black (1958) andAmanita Pestilens (1963) were based on Walker's stories. A plan to filmDigby in Scotland withSpencer Tracy was aborted.[1]
Apart from his writing career, Walker took a keen interest in community affairs. An active conservationist, he served as president of Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre in St. Andrews and as chair of St. Andrews Centennial Park. Between 1965 and 1991, he sat as a commissioninterner of theRoosevelt Campobello International Park Commission, serving as chair from 1970 to 1972.
His success as a writer and his community involvement won him recognition. In 1955 theUniversity of New Brunswick awarded him an honorary doctor of letters, and in 1987 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. Walker died at St. Andrews on 5 March 1992, at age 81.[2]
Source: [Canadian Books and Authors]
