
Walter was born in Burley, Leeds on 27th September 1899 to parents Benjamin and Annie Elizabeth.
He was one year old when mentioned in the 1901 census, living with his parents and 3 older siblings in Headingley-cum-Burley.
10 years later, the family lived at 11 Lennox Street, Leeds; Walter was recorded as attending school.
On 17th May 1914, aged 14, he saved the life of an 11 year old girl who had fallen into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. He was presented with a certificate from the Royal Humane Society, along with the gift of a sovereign.
He was formerly employed at Wilson & Mathieson Ltd, Scotch Foundry, Leeds, before joining the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 12th January 1916, beginning his training at HMS GANGES. He rose to Boy 1st Class on 16th June 1916 and left the shore base on 12th July 1916. He spent 10 days at PEMBROKE I before embarking to HMS VANGUARD on 24th July 1916...it was to be his only ship posting.
He was 5'2" tall, had brown hair, grey eyes and had a scar on his right eyebrow.
He died aged 17.
#41 - 487/843
Sources:
1901 & 1911 England Census - Ancestry.com
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910
CWGC Register
National Archives Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242 Piece 009 (1914 - 1919)
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 744
British Newspaper Archives
www.leedsww1memorials.com
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