 In the spring of 1916, at great risk to himself, he carried a wounded fellow soldier out of No Man's Land and back to safety; for this action, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the second-highest honour awarded to Canadian soldiers at the time.It is noted that in Anne of Ingleside, Anne sees the shadow of the window form a cross above Walter, sleeping in his bed.It is mentioned that seeing this would haunt and remind her for years after of a grave a Courcelette, referring to his death in the Great War.