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A poppy engraved street sign of Wallace Road.
Screen grab from Google Maps
In honour of our soldiers: William Victor Wallace
Published 11:44 PDT, Thu March 27, 2025
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In a series about Richmond’s poppy street signs, in memory of our fallen soldiers, we share the story of Wallace Road.
William Victor Wallace was born on Nov. 28, 1817 in Monaghan, Ireland. Around the age of 16, he and his family would move to Steveston, British Columbia, where he would attend David Lloyd George School. He would then attend Richmond High School until 1937, around the age of 19 to 20.
After graduating from Richmond High School, he would work seasonally with the BC Packers as a labourer, his hobbies included playing lacrosse with the Intermediates and the Steveston Tyees, a local lacrosse team in Richmond.
In 1941, Wallace would enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force, he would visit bases in mid to western Canada for his training as a wireless operator. Wallace was posted in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, graduating in November 1941, after spending nine months. Upon his arrival to England in December of 1941, he would take on Royal Air Force Training before being assigned to the #207 Squadron of the Air Force.
For 16 months, Wallace served his country participating in missions as instructed as part of the Air Force. On March 3, 1943, Wallace was part of a mission that involved flying over enemy territory, when the Lancaster aircraft #ED 365 went missing. For almost half a year, the whereabouts of those aboard the Lancaster aircraft were uncertain, until Aug. 18, 1943, when information was fed through the International Red Cross that Warrant Officer William Victor Wallace had been buried in Ohlsdorf Cemetery, in Hamburg, Germany. This news prompted the declaration that Wallace and those aboard the Lancaster ED #365 were killed in action.
On Feb. 4, 1946, the City of Richmond made the resolution to honour Wallace’s service and sacrifice to his country, by naming a street sign after him. Wallace road can be found near the intersection of No. 2 Road and Steveston Highway.
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