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Armed Forces trumpets long career of Winnipeg's Jack Walton

A retired member of the military is celebrating a milestone almost unheard of in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Master Warrant Officer Jack Walton enlisted 70 years ago, declaring he was 16 going on 17 and that he had his parents' permission.

He lied.

"I enlisted in 1945, February 10. I guess I can tell you now — they won't kick me out — I was 13 years old," he confessed Tuesday.

"I got on as a boy soldier. The pay back in those days was 25 cents and two streetcar tickets."

Walton explains that his father Fred had been a member of the Winnipeg Rifle Band at the time and that it was important that his son be a part of it as well.

"Well I had my dad begging me, and I felt I should be a rifle man. My dad was a rifle man, I'll be one too, that's the way she went," said Walton, who played the trumpet.

That pride and call to service continues to be a family tradition for the Waltons with their two children having served with the regiment. Their son, Cpl. Steve Walton is still a serving member.

One of Walton's first Winnipeg Rifle Band memories goes back to when the Second World War ended and his father called the school to pull him from class.

"He said, 'tell my son Jack Walton he's got to come play his horn down with the rifle band,'" Walton said.

Walton ran home, grabbed his gear and took the streetcar downtown.

"That is something to see … confetti falling down, paper falling down, people hugging and kissing one another and singing, 'Ray and the Boys will soon be home.' It was so crowded that the trombones had to play up in the air so they could follow the band where they go up and down Main Street."

Served at Royal Wedding

It was just one of the highlights of his career in the rifles band — a career that has allowed Walton to travel and play the trumpet across the country and also in Paris, Normandy and England.

Walton was even in London in 1981 to serve at the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, but not with his trumpet that time.

"They picked 20 guys out of the regiment and two out of the band, me and another fella named Dave Baird," he said.

"We didn't play our horns there. They gave us a crash course in rifle drill so we guarded the streets."

Walton officially retired in 1987 but has continued to volunteer over the past 28 years and played with the rifle band at many parades, ceremonies, Santa Claus parades, and Sunday concerts at Assiniboine Park and Kildonan Park.

When reflecting back on his time and commitment to the unit, Walton noted, "nobody told me to go home. What else can I say?"

A dismissal parade will be held Tuesday night at Minto Armouries for Walton, to honour his long service.