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Martin, Walter Rintoul
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Dates of existence
April 6, 1920-April 5, 2015
History
Walter Martin was a Professor Emeritus of English Literature at the University of Waterloo.
Martin was born in Durban, South Africa in 1920. Following the outbreak of World War II, he left school to join the Durban Light Infantry and was stationed in North Africa. His detachment was captured in 1942 and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Italy. In 1943, Martin and five fellow soldiers escaped the camp but were quickly captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Germany. He was released from the camp at the end of the war and returned to South Africa.
Martin was an activist against apartheid and ultimately decided to leave South Africa due to the country's racist policies. He immigrated to Canada with his wife and children in 1961.
In Canada, Martin accepted a position with the agricultural college in Guelph, ON. He joined the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo in 1962 and held the role of professor since 1969. In 1980, he received the Distinguished Teacher Award.
Martin's research and scholarly expertise centered mainly on the writings of Jane Austen, Henry James, Alice Munro, Joseph Conrad, W. B. Yeats, T. S. Elliot and D. H. Lawrence.
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Updated by NM 2024.
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Sources
Hill, Valerie. "Prof railed against apartheid in his homeland." Kitchener-Waterloo Record. Monday, April 27, 2015, p. 17.
Martin Walter, recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award, 1980. Centre for Teaching Excellence.