1

David Linklater first came to Transcona to work as a carpenter during the construction of the G.T.P. Railway Shops. Later he was employed in the construction of residences in Town. Prior to his enlistment, he resided in Transcona and was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church. Shortly after war broke out, David Linklater left Transcona to volunteer in the Royal Naval Reserve. He first served aboard a minesweeper in the English Channel, then transferred to a merchantman crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and finally transferred aboard the ill-fated British Steamer the S.S. "Belgian Prince" where he served as a Gunner.

David Linklater volunteered with the Royal Naval Reserve; first, aboard a minesweeper in the English Channel, then transferred to a merchantman crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and finally transferred aboard the ill-fated British Steamer the S.S. "Belgian Prince" where he served as a Gunner. The experience of the crew was described by one of the three men who miraculously survived their encounter:

"We were more than 200 miles from land when I saw the wake of a torpedo some little distance from the vessel, and almost before I had time to give the alarm we were struck amidships, and a violent explosion followed. Captain Hassan acted promptly and coolly, and we were all ordered to the boats, the captain being the last to leave the vessel. The boats were ordered to row to the submarine and when we reached it we were lined up along the deck, 43 of us, with the exception of the captain who was taken below.

"We all had life belts. We were ordered to throw them on the deck of the submarine. The German sailors then deliberately kicked the lifebelts into the sea?They entered our boats and threw overboard the oars, balers, rations, etc, and smashed the boats with axes?The Germans descended into their vessel and a few minutes later I heard the rush of water into the submarine as she started to make her way. After we had proceeded about two miles?the submarine began to submerge. Some of the poor fellows went down with the submarine, and others were left floundering in the water, their awful predicament and subsequent death being almost too shocking to describe." David Linklater died on Tuesday, 31st July 1917.

2

David Linklater left Transcona to serve in the Royal Naval Reserve
August 1917
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

3

In recognition of his supreme sacrifice and service to King and Country, David Linklater's name was memorialized on the Cenotaph now located in Memorial Park Circle. It also appears on an Honour Roll hanging in Transcona Memorial United Church.