Walter was born in Melton on 14th December 1882 and, in 1901, he was working as a domestic gardener. In 1910, he married Maud Elizabeth Woolley, whose father was a coachman for James Burness at The Lodge. Her brother, Thomas, was killed in the war. Shortly after their marriage, Walter and Maud moved to the Great Yarmouth area where their two children were born; Marjorie, in 1914 and Walter, in 1916.

Walter was conscripted into the services, joining the Royal Garrison Artillery on 6th June 1916. He was posted to Avington Park Camp near Winchester for training. Little else is known about Walter’s military service for which he received the British War and Victory Medals.

By 1939, the family was back in Melton at Wilford Bungalow where Walter worked as a gardener. He died on 21st January 1962 and is buried at Melton Old Church next to his wife Maud, who died in 1950.